Order on e-ricks on 9 Sept, says Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court on Friday said it will 9 September before an order is passed on whether to lift a ban on plying of e-rickshaws in the capital till the law is amended to bring them under the ambit of the Motor Vehicles Act.

A division bench of Justice BD Ahmed and Justice Siddharth Mridul also observed that it seems central government is not keen on lifting of the ban on e-rickshaws.

‘Once we know it’s illegal, can we permit it? We are only considering it (this case) because you (central government) said people are being affected, otherwise we would have not taken up this matter to consider lifting of ban,’ the bench said, after Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Pinky Anand sought the stay be vacated.

‘We see that government doesn’t seem to be very keen for the ban to be lifted. We are not getting adequate support from you. You should have done something by now,’ it said.

Anand, however, objected to this saying that the government has been doing everything possible and even came up with draft rules on plying of these battery-operated vehicles, and these have been submitted to the law ministry.