Meerut: In a significant ruling, the Allahabad High Court has quashed a directive issued by the Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO), Meerut, dated January 10, 2025, that restricted the sale of e-rickshaws and e-carts only to individuals possessing a valid driving license and a ten-day training certificate.
The order was passed by a division bench comprising Hon’ble Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Hon’ble Justice Jayant Banerji in a writ petition filed by Hind Services, a Meerut-based proprietorship engaged in the sale and purchase of e-rickshaw vehicles. The petitioner, represented by advocates Nirvikalp Pandey and Prarabdha Pandey, contended that Rule 8- A of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, only mandates training for driving e-rickshaws or e-carts but does not place any restriction on their sale to individuals without a driving license or training certificate.
After hearing arguments from both sides, including the Standing Counsel for the State, the Court held that there is no provision in the Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, that restricts the sale of e-rickshaws solely to trained or licensed individuals.
The Court observed:
“In view of the stand taken by the respondents as also the fact that Rule 8- A of the Rules of 1989 does not contain any embargo which is sought to be imposed by the respondents on sale of e-rickshaw vehicles, we hold that the direction contained in the communication requiring the e-rickshaw dealers to sell e-rickshaw only to a person who has valid license and ten days training certificate for operating e-rickshaw cannot be sustained.”
The bench set aside the impugned order and clarified that while authorities are free to enforce Rule 8-A with respect to training and licensing for driving e-rickshaws, the sale of such vehicles cannot be restricted on that basis.
This decision is expected to bring major relief to e-rickshaw dealers and streamline vehicle sales across the state, ensuring that regulatory compliance does not unjustly hinder commercial transactions.