‘Seize e-rickshaws without registration’

The Delhi high court has directed the traffic police and the enforcement department of the Delhi government to impound or seize all e-rickshaws plying in the national capital without a registration certificate. Justice Manmohan issued the direction aft-er the transport department told the court that till October 10 this year, only 19,424 e-rickshaws have been registered, while the petitioner cla-imed that over two lakh such vehicles were plying.

The court was hearing a contempt plea filed by one Shahnawaz Khan, through advocate Sugrive Dubey, alleging 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.

Mr Khan, in his 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 and run high voltage current through it so that no can illegally tap power.

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

In view of several allegations by the petitioner, especially regarding the number of unlicensed e-rickshaws running on Delhi roads, the court asked Mr Khan to implead associations representing e-rickshaw operators and other concerned authorities, including the discoms, and listed the matter for hearing on January 13 next year.