The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notices to the city government, traffic police, transport department, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking urgent regulation of e-rickshaw operations across the national capital.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia directed the respondents to file their affidavits detailing the steps taken to ensure compliance with existing regulations governing e-rickshaws. The court fixed the matter for the next hearing on March 18.
The PIL has been filed by Manish Parashar, a grieving father whose 8-year-old daughter lost her life in 2025 while commuting to school in an e-rickshaw. The petition recounts how the speeding, uninsured vehicle—allegedly operating on a prohibited road—overturned and crushed the child to death.
Filed through advocates Gaurav Arya and Naveen Bamel, the petition raises serious concerns about public safety, calling the unchecked spread of e-rickshaws a “relentless menace”.
The petitioner submitted that despite the Delhi Gazette Notification banning the operation and parking of e-rickshaws on 236 roads, these restrictions are frequently flouted on the ground. The PIL claims that many such vehicles lack registration, insurance, valid driver’s licences, and operate beyond permitted passenger capacity, leading to rising road safety risks.
Citing data from the Delhi Traffic Police, the PIL states that between January 1 and August 20, 2025, there were 108 accidents involving e-rickshaws, resulting in 26 deaths and 130 injuries—an average of three deaths per month.
The petition has urged the High Court to direct authorities to:
- Strictly enforce the Delhi government’s E-Rickshaw Sewa Scheme and central guidelines on e-rickshaw regulation
- Ensure mandatory registration, fitness certification every three years, and valid driving licences
- Limit passenger capacity to four excluding the driver
- Impose safety compliance checks, including insurance verification
- Seize and impound all e-rickshaws operating in violation of the regulatory framework
The petitioner’s counsel emphasised the need for urgent action to prevent further fatalities caused by “unregulated and hazardous” e-rickshaw usage, especially on school routes.
