The Calcutta High Court Friday ordered a ban on plying of battery operated rickshaws in two districts of West Bengal.
Following a public interest litigation filed by teacher Sudipto Roy, who complained that the rickshaws neither had licence nor number plates and it was impossible to get compensation in case of accidents as the vehicles were uninsured, Justice Joymalya Bagchi ordered the Hooghly and Howrah district administrations to put a stop on their running.
Locally called "totos", the battery operated rickshaws were running between Rishra in Hooghly and Bally in Howrah on the age-old Grand Trunk Road.
In his petition, Roy had alleged that the vehicles were even unregistered and the drivers also did not have any licence.
Passing his order, Justice Bagchi directed the two district magistrates and the Regional Transport Offices to furnish a compliance report within 15 days.