The Delhi government and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) on Wednesday filed affidavits before the Delhi High Court that any legislation or policy on e-rickshaws in the capital would have to come through the Central government by an amendment of the Motor Vehicles? Act and Motor Vehicles? Rules.

The court was hearing a petition filed by social worker Shanawaz Khan, who said e-rickshaws are battery-operated vehicles meant to ferry only four people, including the driver.

The drivers of these vehicles carry more than eight people at a time, endangering their lives, the plea said.

The court of Justice Pradeep nandrajog and Justice Jayant Nath pulled up agencies for ?passing the buck ? and failing to stop ?illegal? e-rickshaws from plying on the roads.

?Seize them if you need to. How can you not take any steps?? the court said after Delhi government counsel Zubeda Begum and NDMC counsel Madhu Tewatia both expressed inability to tackle the issue.

The government in its affidavit claimed that it had written to the Ministry of Road Transport calling for amendment in the Motor Vehicles; Act and the Central Motor Vehicles Rules ?to provide a legal framework? for any action against e-rickshaws.

The court then directed the Chief Secretary of Delhi to file a detailed an affidavit explaining why e-rickshaws were being ?allowed to ply?.

?Can anyone start manufacturing any contraption and start plying it on the road? There is no governance in this country,? the court said.

In its affidavit on Wednesday, the NDMC said it was the responsibility of the Transport department to punish violations of Motor Vehicles Rules as the MCD Act did not include battery-operated or motorised vehicles.

The Delhi government, in its affidavit, said the operation of e-rickshaws was ?totally unauthorised and illegal?.

The government also said a ?national framework of regulations? was required as ?none of the e-rickshaws plying in Delhi have taken any type of approval from the designated agencies.

It said a letter was sent to

the Delhi Traffic Police in January 2013 to begin seizing e-rickshaws.