Observing that it would “not allow any illegal acts”, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday refused to lift its ban on plying of e-rickshaws in the city and asked the government to come up with draft guidelines to regulate the battery-operated vehicles. The High Court had on July 31 banned the plying of e-rickshaws. “Our concern is very clear and we cannot allow these e-rickshaws without any regulations,” the court of Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed and Justice Siddharth Mridul said while hearing a plea to review its ban order. Appearing for the government, Additional Solicitor General Pinki Anand supported the plea of the Battery Operated Rickshaw Association, claiming that since the issue was related to the livelihood of around 50,000 vehicle owners, the vehicles may be allowed to ply under the supervision of police and civic agencies. “We will not allow any illegal act. You show us guidelines or norms under which police will regulate them. Have a proper policy, only then can we allow it,” the bench said. The court also dismissed the argument that the ban was causing “inconvenience” to the public as last-mile connectivity to and from bus stops and Metro stations was being affected. “We are also not happy but we should not allow chaos in the capital of a country, which should be a role model city for all,” the bench said. The ASG then informed the court that the Centre will frame draft guidelines on the issue and that e-rickshaws be allowed to ply till the guidelines are replaced by statutory amendments. The court has now fixed the matter for hearing to August 8. Advocate R K Kapoor, who had appeared for the e-rickshaw association, sought an urgent hearing of the matter saying an advisory has been issued by the Road Transport Minsitry to all state governments regarding regulation of battery-operated vehicles. In his arguments, Kapoor said the advisory had not been brought to the notice of the court when it had issued its order banning them in the capital.