Manushi had filed a petition in the High Court of Delhi some three years ago challenging the perverse cycle rickshaw laws and regulations prevalent in Delhi and other cities of India. On 11 February 2010, the High Court delivered a historic verdict in this case. We were fortunate that a constitutional bench with three outstanding judges Justice Ravinder Bhat, Justice Murlidhar and Chief Justice AP Shah– heard this case over several long sessions.
This battle started way back in 1996 when I made a documentary film on the plight of cycle rickshaw pullers and street vendors. Seeing the film on Doordarshan, numerous rickshaw owners and vendors pressed upon Manushi to carry this battle forward. Thereafter, we organized several public hearings of rickshaw owners- pullers and street vendors presided over by Chief Vigilance Commissioner, Shri N Vittal.
On August 28, 2001, Prime Minister Vajpayee announced a new cycle rickshaw and street vendor policy in response to Manushi public hearings.
However, instead of implementing the Prime Minister’s new policy the then Lt Governor of Delhi, MCD officials and the Delhi Traffic Police went on an overdrive to sabotage the measures of reform suggested by the PM.
That is why Manushi had to approach the High Court challenging the perversions in the existing policy as well as the aggressive “Operation Sabotage.” by the MCD and the Delhi Traffic Police.
Now the big challenge is to get this order of the court produce positive results at the ground level. With the High court watching over implementation we hope to see positive change on this front in the months and years to come.
For the text of PM’s policy of 2001, my old articles, a documentary film and a PowerPoint presentation on the existing cycle rickshaw policy, please visit www.manushi.in
The full text of the judgement can be downloaded here: Cycle Rickshwas Judgement.pdf