The Supreme Court has mandated an investigation into the contentious issue of e-rickshaw allotments in Matheran, Maharashtra. This directive came after concerns were raised about whether e-rickshaws were properly distributed to the intended beneficiariesโhand-rickshaw pullers who are transitioning due to the hill station’s automotive restrictions.
On Wednesday, a bench led by Justice B R Gavai instructed the principal district judge of Raigad to appoint a judicial officer to conduct a thorough inquiry into the allegations. The inquiry will address claims that e-rickshaws have been wrongly allocated to hotel owners and other non-targeted groups instead of the licensed hand-rickshaw pullers.
The controversy began when the Supreme Court, on January 10, announced that e-rickshaws would be provided to hand-rickshaw pullers to mitigate the impact of losing their traditional means of livelihood. Automobiles are banned within the hill station to preserve its environment, making rickshaws a primary mode of transport for tourists and locals alike.
Further compounding the issue, in April, the court capped the number of e-rickshaws in Matheran at 20 until further clarification was provided. It also allowed e-rickshaw operators, who were former hand-rickshaw pullers, the right to use these vehicles for transporting tourists and residents.
During the recent hearing, discrepancies in the e-rickshaw allocation process were highlighted, prompting the need for judicial review. The appointed officer will hear from the local administration, representatives of the hand-rickshaw pullers, and other stakeholders, with a report due back to the court within four weeks.
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The bench is also addressing related infrastructural issues in Matheran, such as the laying of paver blocks on roads, which some argue could undermine the natural beauty and eco-sensitive status of the areaโa concern recognized by the Ministry of Environment and Forests in a 2003 notification declaring the region an eco-sensitive zone.
