The Delhi High Court today asked the city government to inform it whether any policy or guideline exists for putting advertisements and posters on auto rickshaws here.
A division bench of acting Chief Justice B D Ahmed and Justice Vibhu Bakhru asked Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Gaurav Banerjee, who appeared for Delhi government, to seek instructions from the Transport Department and and inform it by next date of hearing on a group of auto drivers' plea against the government's June 6 order prohibiting them from putting advertisements and posters on their autos.
The auto rickshaw drivers in their plea said the government's action is "discriminatory" against poor auto drivers and is also targeted at Aam Aadmi Party whose posters were put up by thousands of auto drivers.
Delhi government has initiated a move to prosecute autorickshaw owners or drivers under Rule 71(2) of Delhi Motor Vehicles Rules for displaying advertisements on their vehicles.
The bench also asked Prashant Bhushan, the counsel for the petitioners, to file an affiddavit in two days giving more detail in their plea and posted the matter for July 15.
Bhushan submitted before the court that radio taxis in Delhi have been carrying advertisements on them but no action has been taken against them.
Countering the petitioners' arguments, the ASG said there is a policy for taxi drivers and if they violate it, the government can cancel their permits.
The auto drivers also said "the said rule is ultra vires the enabling Act which empowers the respondent (govt) to frame rules to regulate (not even 'restrict') but not to prohibit the advertisements on autorickshaws.
