Legal experts bat for bringing e-rickshaws under ambit of MV Act

The Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari had announced at a public rally here that battery-powered e-rickshaws would not be considered motor vehicles, and hence won’t be covered under the Motor Vehicles Act.

In other words, it will virtually be a free-for-all for e-rickshaws. However, it is in contrast to the view of Delhi government, which has included the carrier in the MV Act and is illegal as per the law. Legal experts also say that as per design of these battery-operated vehicles, it should come in the ambit of such law.

On a PIL seeking a complete ban on these vehicles on the ground that they are plying without any licence or number plates, Delhi High Court in February has directed the transport department to make their registration mandatory and come up with a concrete policy on their operation. The court has also directed the department to fix the shape of its chassis. On being asked what determines the plying of such vehicles as illegal on the road, a lawyer Jagmal Singh, said that it is ‘power’ of the vehicle which decides whether it should come in the ambit of MV Act or not.