E-ricks: State differs with Centre on permits

Nagpur: Making it apparent that it was against the central’s government’s policy on e-rickshaw, the Maharashtra government on Friday informed the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court that it had decided that permits will be required for plying battery-operated vehicles in entire state.
A government resolution (GR) by home department was issued in this regard on Friday.However, area falling under the Mumbai Regional Transport Authority has been excluded.
The GR also mentions that the RTO will have to consult the local police and municipal commissioners before issuing permits to applicants.
State’s stand is in complete contrast with the notification of Union ministry of road transport and highways of August 30, which had decided to do away with the mandatory permit policy to operate these vehicles. Interestingly, the union ministry is with the BJP, while the State Transport Department is with the Shiv Sena.
Even though they are in power through a coalition in state, both parties are at loggerheads over various issues. The latest on e-rickshaw clearly indicates growing rift between two saffron outfits.
The GR was submitted in the court by government pleader Bharti Dangre stating that they allowed the RTOs in various cities to grant permit to e-rickshaw owners, on certain terms and conditions, including finalizing a prototype.
Earlier, the state government came out with a GR on August 3 on e-rickshaws stating that it had framed a policy for their plying in six districts — Nagpur, Wardha, Amravati, Buldhana, Akola and Latur. After amendments in 74(1) of Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, e-rickshaws will be allowed to ply in these six districts on pilot basis, the GR mentioned.
However, it came under severe criticism from the high court which asked it on why only limited districts were allowed when there is no such restrictions in the center’s policy.
Dangre however told TOI that with centre doing away with the permits for plying these vehicles, the state would also follow the same in entire state.
The court was hearing a PIL by rickshaw puller Anil Tembekar, a resident of Lashkaribag, through counsel Firdos Mirza, praying for implementing amendments in Central Motor Vehicles Act, and Motor Vehicle Rules, for regulating the e-rickshaws movement in city.
Mirza pointed out that the GR was pertaining to only e-rickshaws while e-kart found no mention in it, unlike centre, which had included both. He also brought to the fore that the police had seized e-rickshaws and e-karts of many poor persons in absence of permit and also fined them heavily, which led them becoming unemployed.
The judges then censured the government for targeting poor people while asking them to take action the manufacturers and sellers of such vehicles, who were doing it illegally so far, without permits. The government was directed to immediately release all seized vehicles with a specific warning of not to harass its poor owners.