Good news: Delhi's drivers will get Rs 5000 within 10 days, court orders

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday (May 29) has directed the Transport Department of Delhi to deposit Rs 5000 in the bank accounts of non-chip PSV badge holders within 10 days. An NGO had filed a PIL demanding that the Transport Department provide Rs 5000 as assistance amount to PSV badge holders.

Counsel for the petitioner stated that as compensation for the loss caused by the government-imposed lockdown due to COVID-19 epidemic, the Chief Minister of Delhi paid auto-rickshaws, e-rickshaws and rural service vehicle drivers a sum of Rs. 5,000. Bargi assistance package was announced.

The court said- 'The Transport Department has already taken enough time to release the aid package, as the scheme was announced in early April 2020 and is now due to end in May. The department had enough time to process all the applications and release funds. Giving the department a last chance, the court has asked him to settle the matter by depositing money within 10 days.

Earlier, the petitioner had insisted that as per the promise the assistance amount has not been received to the PSV badge holders, who were facing great difficulty due to non-driving of the vehicle.

The council had said that the transport department was repeatedly asked but no positive results were forthcoming and the department was discriminating between PSV badge holders who have a chip in their badges and those who do not have a chip in their badges. After which a notice was issued to the department, responding to which the department said that all the eligible applicants have been identified.

The Transport Department's lawyer was asked how much time it would take for the department to deposit the amount of Rs 5,000 in the accounts of the remaining 4825 persons, then they said that the department should be given 15 days time.