SC stays HC ban on battery-powered rickshaws in Dhaka

The chamber judge of the Appellate Division has temporarily stayed a High Court order that sought to halt or restrict the operation of battery-powered auto-rickshaws in the Dhaka Metropolitan Area. 

This decision allows these vehicles to continue plying the city's roads for the time being.

Justice Md Rezaul Haque issued the stay on Monday following the government's appeal challenging the High Court's directive. 

On November 19, the High Court had directed authorities to stop or impose restrictions on the movement of battery-powered auto-rickshaws within three days. This order was addressed to the Home Secretary, Inspector General of Police, Dhaka's Deputy Commissioner, administrators of the two city corporations, and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner.

The government subsequently appealed the decision, filing a petition with the Appellate Division on Sunday, which led to the Chamber Court's stay order.

Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman represented the government in court, while lawyer HM Sanjid Siddiqui argued on behalf of the writ petitioners.

The original writ, filed on October 27, questioned the inaction of authorities in regulating battery-powered auto-rickshaws in Dhaka. 

The petitioners, Zahirul Islam and Md Momin Ali, leaders of the Greater Dhaka City Corporation Rickshaw Owners' Alliance, argued that these vehicles operate without proper regulation, posing safety and environmental concerns.

The High Court, along with its order, had issued a rule asking why the inaction to regulate battery-powered auto-rickshaws should not be deemed illegal. It also questioned why authorities had failed to disconnect illegal power connections used to charge the vehicles' batteries. The government and relevant officials were directed to respond within four weeks.