Only 1,100 e-rickshaws have licence to ply in Delhi: Govt tells HC

The AAP government on Monday told Delhi high court that around 1,100 e-rickshaws have been granted <g data-gr-id="28">licence</g> to operate in the national Capital and those not licensed were being impounded and the owners prosecuted.

The Delhi government made the submission before Justice Manmohan during the hearing of a contempt plea alleging that most e-rickshaws in the city were operating in violation of law and rules and the authorities were not taking any action against such vehicles.

The counsel for Delhi government told the court that only those e-rickshaws complying with its guidelines were being registered and the rest being impounded.

He also said the transport department has granted licences to around 1,100 e-rickshaws and impounded more than 15,000 since January this year. <g data-gr-id="25">Prosecution</g> has been initiated against owners or operators of around 16,000 e-rickshaws which were found plying illegally.

On the other hand, counsel for the petitioner Shahnawaz Khan told the court that licences have been granted to only 31 e-rickshaws and added that especially in Trans-Yamuna areas, e-rickshaws were <g data-gr-id="22">plying</g> in violation of rules and law. The court after hearing the arguments of both sides asked them to file their submissions by way of affidavits and listed the matter for hearing on February 15 next year.

The government had earlier told the court that as per its December 11, <g data-gr-id="20">2014</g> notification, e-rickshaws have been banned from <g data-gr-id="18">plying</g> or parking on 236 roads in the city.