The court also suggested that once the rickshaws were registered and the people cycling them were licensed, they could be allowed to ply in Chandni Chowk as a mode of public transport
In a bid to make Old Delhi chaos-free, the Delhi High Court on Thursday suggested the North Delhi Municipal Corporation to computerise records or hold a one-week drive to facilitate registration of cycle rickshaws operating in the Chandni Chowk area.
A Bench comprising Justices B D Ahmed and Jayant Nath gave the suggestions after an NGO representing the rickshaw owners and pullers alleged that the civic authorities were harassing the rickshaw pullers and discouraging them from getting registered.
The court, however, refused to pass any order on the issue and asked the lawyer for the corporation to come with instructions regarding the suggestions and listed the matter for further hearing on November 30. The court had previously asked the NGO whether owners of cycle rickshaws plying in the area were open to registration and licencing of their vehicles.
The court also suggested that once the rickshaws were registered and the people cycling them were licensed, they could be allowed to ply in Chandni Chowk as a mode of public transport.
The Bench said it was contemplating prohibiting plying of motorised vehicles in the area, but first a suitable alternative mode of transport had to be put in place, along with parking facilities, so that people could park their cars near the area and then proceed on rickshaws. It was of the view that the walled city was an area where plying of cycle rickshaws should be "actively promoted" as they were non-polluting, reduced congestion and provided livelihood to scores of people.
Vighnesh Jha, founder of Federation of Rickshaw Pullers Association (FORPA), however, said any registration policy should be made in collaboration with their representatives and that the
agencies responsible should be cautious while forming the policy.
"A sudden move may leave many rickshaw-pullers jobless. The agencies must be cautious and proper consultation must be taken from those involved. This requires a lot of brainstorming," said Jha.
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