The Supreme Court today asked the Centre to place before it a report of a high-level committee which was set up to frame rules on new category of vehicles, including quadricycles.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India T S Thakur also sought the response on the specific safety standards to be followed with regard to quadricycles - a new category of cycle-like four-wheelers now allowed to ply on roads.
The bench also comprising Justice U U Lalit was hearing a bunch of pleas challenging the amendments made in the Central Motor Vehicle Rules to allow the new vehicles to ply.
Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi appearing for the Centre opposed the PIL saying it has been filed by some lawyers and autorickshaw associations which fear competition.
He said the Centre had appointed an expert committee and several suggestions were received after which the quadricycle was introduced. Quadricycles are eco-friendly and provide last mile connectivity.
Counsel for petitioners opposed the arguments and said the Committee report has said that quadricycle is unsafe on Indian roads and even the vehicle has an adverse frontal crash report.
The Centre had constituted the Committee under the chairmanship of Dinesh Tyagi, director of the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT), for the purpose of framing rules and regulations for the proposed new category of vehicles.
Attorney General had argued that these vehicles were small and not meant for highways but will ply smaller distances.
It posted the matter for further hearing on April 5 and asked the Centre to file the report and safety standards.
