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Synopsis

The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed the Delhi Government to file their responses on a plea seeking urgent measures to mandate insurance policy/cover for all-electric vehicles, particularly two and three-wheeler vehicles.

A bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad while allowing time to the government for filing the reply, listed the matter for further hearing on November 2, 2022.

The plea filed by Advocate Rajat Kapoor through Advocate Raj Kapoor stated that the rush of high demand has created an urgent need for an Act that deals specifically with all-electric vehicles including two-wheelers, three-wheelers and four-wheelers.

The plea was filed in view of the recent incidents of blasts and burning of electronic vehicles. It stated that "given the rate at which people are buying electric vehicles and the change in thinking arising from rise in petrol prices creates an urgent need to address the issue of insurance of electric vehicles".

The plea alleged that a lack of rules relating to insurance will create a plethora of vehicles running or flying on the road which do not have any source of origin. "This can create a situation of havoc in the coming days wearing any issue relating to death or compensation to any victim due to lack of any third-party insurance or any such crime committed by the owner of such vehicles can go unpunished due to lack of insurance and the proper statute governing the electric vehicles," the plea read.

The plea added, "Geopolitical scenarios and the ongoing war which has further caused a state of instability with regards to crude oil prices which can further go in any direction, creates an immediate need to make proper rules and laws which pertain specifically towards not only just electric vehicles but also to other green resources like wind or solar energy vehicles".

In view of the above, the plea stated that a comprehensive enactment would be required to cover the determination of damages and penalties for omission to provide safe batteries and other similar measures.

Case Title: Rajat Kapoor Advocate Vs. Union of India & Anr