NAGPUR: In a setback to e-rickshaw owners' association, Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court rejected their PIL challenging Maharashtra government's notification of making it mandatory for them to register their vehicles.
A division bench comprising Justice Bhushan Dharmadhikari and Justice Swapna Joshi on Wednesday also imposed Rs 20,000 cost on them.
The petitioner — E-Rickshaw Chalak Malak Welfare Association through president Swapnil Admane — opposed retrospective applicability of the amendment made in the Motor Vehicles Act, 2015, and Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 2015. The association contended that it (the notification) was gross violation of their fundamental right and causing immense hardship to their members.
After introduction of e-rickshaws and e-carts in 2012-13, association members started buying them from the dealers and suppliers That time, those vehicles didn't require any documents or registration.
On January 13, 2015, the central government made a change in the rules and made registration of e-rickshaws and e-carts must.
Subsequently, the RTO asked all e-rickshaw and e-carts owners to register their vehicles by October 31.
The directive created panic among the owners. However, they couldn't get documents of their vehicles as those were not issued by the dealers at that time, in the absence of any rules. The petitioners also sought extension of deadline from the RTO, but it was rejected, forcing them to knock the judiciary's doors.
Earlier, the government had informed that e-rickshaw and e-cart have been included as a separate category under the Motor Vehicles Act and being promoted for replacing manually laboured rickshaws.
The Centre also issued advisory for speedy process of licensing and registration which would result in creating respectful livelihood opportunities for poor rickshaw pullers. It will also help women and differently abled persons in gaining meaningful employment apart from reducing pollution levels.
A division bench comprising Justice Bhushan Dharmadhikari and Justice Swapna Joshi on Wednesday also imposed Rs 20,000 cost on them.
The petitioner — E-Rickshaw Chalak Malak Welfare Association through president Swapnil Admane — opposed retrospective applicability of the amendment made in the Motor Vehicles Act, 2015, and Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 2015. The association contended that it (the notification) was gross violation of their fundamental right and causing immense hardship to their members.
After introduction of e-rickshaws and e-carts in 2012-13, association members started buying them from the dealers and suppliers That time, those vehicles didn't require any documents or registration.
On January 13, 2015, the central government made a change in the rules and made registration of e-rickshaws and e-carts must.
Subsequently, the RTO asked all e-rickshaw and e-carts owners to register their vehicles by October 31.
The directive created panic among the owners. However, they couldn't get documents of their vehicles as those were not issued by the dealers at that time, in the absence of any rules. The petitioners also sought extension of deadline from the RTO, but it was rejected, forcing them to knock the judiciary's doors.
Earlier, the government had informed that e-rickshaw and e-cart have been included as a separate category under the Motor Vehicles Act and being promoted for replacing manually laboured rickshaws.
The Centre also issued advisory for speedy process of licensing and registration which would result in creating respectful livelihood opportunities for poor rickshaw pullers. It will also help women and differently abled persons in gaining meaningful employment apart from reducing pollution levels.
Get latest news & live updates on the go on your pc with News App. Download The Times of India news app for your device.
