Allowing plying of e-rickshaws in Matheran: Supreme Court says current Hand-rickshaw pullers will operate them

On 12 July 2023, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court including Justice BR Gavai, Justice Sanjay Kumar, and Justice JB Pardiwala allowed plying of e-rickshaws in the Matheran Municipal Council area and on conventional roads. While giving the order, the Supreme Court bench put forth a condition that only the current hand-rickshaw pullers at the hill station would operate the e-rickshaws. Earlier on May 12, 2022, a three-judge bench allowed the e-rickshaw trial, including Justice AS Bopanna, Justice L Nageshwara Rao, and Justice BR Gavai. On the basis of a petition filed by Suni Shinde through their Advocates Lalit Mohan Dhiman and Videh Vaish, the order for allowing the trial of e-rickshaws was given by the then bench. For three months, a total of seven e-rickshaws were put on trial. These rickshaws were introduced on a trial basis to check their feasibility for replacing the hand-pulled rickshaws. In this context, Advocate Dhiman stated that “We have strongly objected to the concerns of traffic issues, pollution, etc., due to the movement of e-rickshaws that were raised by the petitioners.” While hearing the matter on July 12, the bench agreed to allow the working of e-rickshaws in the Matheran.

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