Delhi HC Issues Notice on Plea Flagging Traffic Violations by E-Commerce Delivery Riders
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Union of India (UOI) and the Delhi Government on a plea raising concerns over alleged traffic violations by e-commerce and online delivery riders during the transportation of goods.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela directed the authorities to file their responses and also furnish data regarding the implementation and enforcement of a policy notified in 2023.
Appearing for the Delhi Government, counsel informed the Court that a scheme titled “Delhi Motor Vehicle Aggregator and Delivery Service Provider Scheme 2023” was already in place and had been notified on November 21 2023.
Filed by Advocate Shashank Shri Tripathi, the plea alleged that major e-commerce companies are operating in Delhi without ensuring compliance with statutory road safety norms. It was contended that delivery personnel are frequently found transporting oversized and overweight parcels on two-wheelers, which not only violates traffic regulations but also endangers road safety.
Tripathi submitted that such practices, including carrying equipment or goods extending beyond legal size limits, overloading vehicles obstructing the rider’s view and compromising braking capacity, place both the delivery workers and other commuters at risk.
Highlighting the physical toll on delivery personnel and the lack of regulatory safeguards, the petitioner stated that these platforms, whether functioning directly or through third-party contractors, have failed to provide appropriate vehicles for goods transportation contrary to legal requirements.
Calling out the absence of accountability, the plea sought directions for framing binding regulatory guidelines to govern delivery operations within the gig economy.
It also urged the Court to direct all concerned companies to bring their delivery practices in line with the Motor Vehicles Act 1988 and the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989.
The matter will be heard next on October 8, 2025.