‘Autorickshaws should be painted as per rules’

The Kerala High Court has held that the whole front portion of the autorickshaws that run as taxi should be painted in cream yellow colour and the rest of the body in black, according to the Kerala Motor Vehicle Rules.

Justice K Surendra Mohan issued the ruling while dismissing a petition filed by the Kerala Autorickshaw Drivers Welfare Association, Pathanamthitta and others, challenging the decision of the Pathanamthitta municipality that, permits would be granted only if the front portion of the autorickshaws were painted in cream yellow and the rest in black.

In most of the cities, the autos are painted yellow in half of the front portion. The petitioners submitted that the stipulation had violated Rule 295 of the Kerala Motor Vehicles Rules. According to them, only the hoods of the autorickshaws were to be painted in cream yellow and the rest in black. In other words, the metal portion around the front windshield glass alone should be painted in yellow colour.

The Pathanamthitta District Road Safety Council in its affidavit said that every autorickshaw should be painted as provided in the rules. The condition was insisted in view of the alarming number of illegal activities indulged in by unauthorised autorickshaws. The court said that the decision taken by the road safety council was within its authority. “It could not be said that insistence on the condition was in violation of the rules”, the court said.