445 e-rickshaws impounded for plying illegally: Government tells High Court

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government today told the high court that around 445 e-rickshaws had been impounded by its enforcement staff since August this year for running on city roads despite a ban.

The traffic police, meanwhile, submitted that it had till November 25 impounded a total of 6,602 e-rickshaws for plying on the city roads in violation of the court's ban on their operation.

Delhi Government's Transport Department submitted before the Delhi High Court that there was a spurt in plying of e-rickshaws consequent to the Centre's October 8, 2014 notification providing new rules for their registration, and this resulted in around 312 of them being seized.

Prior to that very few e-rickshaws were running in view of the high court's July 31 and September 9 orders banning them from Delhi roads, the Transport Department submitted before Justice V K Shali who listed the matter for further hearing in January.

In an affidavit filed in the court, the department has said Delhi Traffic Police was requested to issue necessary instructions to all zonal authorities as well as local police to take appropriate action against e-rickshaws plying without obtaining approval and registration as per the rules.

The department also said that a public notice was issued in six leading newspapers highlighting that plying of e-rickshaws without obtaining registration or permit was illegal in view of the court's orders.

In its affidavit by its Special Commissioner, the Transport Department has also said that the State Transport Authority (STA) has notified the negative roads on which e-rickshaws are not be plied after their registration.

The court was hearing Shahnawaz's contempt plea, filed through advocate Sugrive Dubey, alleging that e-rickshaws are continuing to operate in violation of the court's September 9 direction.