Over 6,000 e-ricks impounded since ban, police to HC

The traffic police has informed the Delhi High Court that it had impounded over 6,600 e-rickshaws that have been plying despite the court’s ban.

In an affidavit filed before Justice VK Shali, the traffic police said that to follow a July 31 court order that banned the plying of battery-operated e-rickshaws, a special drive was started in the nation Capital.

“In pursuance to the directions of the court dated July 31, up to November 25, the Delhi Police have impounded a total of 6,602 e-rickshaws for plying on the roads of Capital in violation of the directions of the court’s order,” said the affidavit. It further added the Delhi traffic police was meticulously implementing the directions of the court in true spirit and “there shall not be any laxity in this respect in enforcing the direction of the court.” The police also said prior to the passing of the ban order, from April to July, 114 cases have been registered against e-rickshaw drivers for rash driving. “Delhi traffic police personnel are deployed for traffic regulation on the arterial roads. They have also been directed to prevent movement of e-rickshaws on the internal roads where drivers/operators of e-rickshaws attempt to ply on the sly,” said the affidavit filed through advocate Zubeda Begum. The traffic police response came on a contempt petition filed against the city police and transport department for not taking action against plying of e-rickshaws in the Capital despite a ban.

The court had issued a show cause notice asking the two departments to explain why contempt proceedings not be initiated against them for not following the court’s order. The court had banned plying of e-rickshaws on the city roads, saying they were running “illegally and were hazardous to other traffic as well as citizens”. A bill to allow battery-operated e-rickshaws will be introduced in the current session of parliament.