IMPOUND UNREGISTERED E-RICKS, DELHI HIGH COURT TELLS COPS

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the traffic police and the enforcement department of city government to impound or seize all e-rickshaws plying in the capital without a registration certificate.

Justice Manmohan issued the direction after the transport department told the court that till October 10 this year, only 19424 e-rickshaws have been registered, while a petition claimed that over two lakh such vehicles were plying.

Advocate Sugrive Dubey, who has filed a contempt petition, alleged that most of the 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 plea has sought a direction to immediately stop plying of unlicensed e-rickshaws here and told the court that several people have been killed in accidents involving these vehicles. With regard to the aspect of electricity theft by e-rickshaw drivers, the court asked discoms to consider insulating the power lines so that no one can illegally tap power.

The discoms, however, contended that the electricity was being tapped from junction boxes and light poles.

The court has asked an associations representing e-rickshaw operators to be made a party in the case and isted the matter for hearing on January 13 next year.

THE PLEA HAS SOUGHT A DIRECTION TO IMMEDIATELY STOP PLYING OF UNLICENSED E-RICKSHAWS