The Supreme Court on Wednesday came down heavily on the continued practice of hand-pulled rickshaws in Matheran, calling it “inhuman” and against the core values of the Constitution.

“We find that the practice of hand pulling of rickshaws needs to be dropped forthwith,” observed the court while hearing an application regarding the introduction of e-rickshaws in the hill station.

Chief Justice of India, Justice BR Gavai, while expressing his concern on the matter, called it unfortunate.

“It is unfortunate that the inhuman practice of a human pulling another is still prevalent in Matheran,” he said.

The court underlined that such practices strike at the root of human dignity and “belittle constitutional promises.”

Acknowledging that most hand-rickshaw pullers do not do this out of choice but due to a lack of alternative livelihoods, the court directed the state to formulate a scheme for the rehabilitation of hand-driven rickshaw pullers to ensure they are not deprived of their livelihood.

The court suggested replacing the practice with the use of e-rickshaws, noting that with technological developments, e-rickshaws offer an environment-friendly alternative.

The court also observed that continuing such a practice even 78 years after the country gained independence and 75 years after the adoption of the Constitution would be a betrayal of the promises made by the people of India to themselves.

– Ends