Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Aug 29: Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner Mullai Muhilan on Thursday, August 29 dismissed the demand by petrol, LPG, and CNG autorickshaw drivers to impose regulated zones on electric autorickshaws, stating that there is no provision for such restrictions under the existing Motor Vehicles Act (MVA) of 1988.
In response to a strike by autorickshaw drivers in Mangaluru seeking restrictions on electric autos, the deputy commissioner informed reporters that all electric vehicles, including electric autos, are exempt under Section 66(1) of the MV Act.
He explained that zoning regulations were initially applied to all autorickshaws, including electric ones, in Dakshina Kannada through an order issued by the deputy commissioner on November 24, 2022, under Rule 115 of the Karnataka Motor Vehicle Act of 1988. However, electric auto owners challenged the order in the high court, citing their exemption under Section 66(1) of the MV Act. Following the court's intervention, electric autos were exempted from the zoning regulations.
The deputy commissioner clarified that, following the high court's directives, a detailed hearing was held by the DC Court, with notices issued to all stakeholders, before granting the exemption to electric autos from the zoning regulation.
"Now, the petrol, LPG, and CNG autos are demanding that the same order (Rule 115 of the KMV Act - 1988) be reinstated to impose restrictions on electric autos. However, there is no provision for such action under the existing laws. Electric autos are exempt under Section 66(1) of the MV Act, meaning they do not even require an RTO permit, so how can regulations be imposed on them? Nowhere in the country are there regulations on electric autos, as the aim is to promote eco-friendly vehicles. We have not provided any special exemptions for them; it is simply in accordance with the law," he stated.
He further noted that this issue does not exist anywhere else in the country except in Dakshina Kannada. "The situation arose because of an anomaly (Rule 115 of the KMV Act), and we have removed that anomaly since there is no basis for it," he added.
However, the deputy commissioner mentioned that a meeting has been scheduled for September 5 to discuss other concerns raised by petrol, LPG, and CNG auto drivers related to parking spaces, road width, traffic issues, and other matters. He also stated that the commissioner of police, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC), and the RTO have submitted their opinions on these issues in writing, and these will be discussed in the upcoming meeting.