A case has been registered against the owner of an e-rickshaw after a 14-year-old boy was caught driving the vehicle in Gurgaon's Jharsa area on Wednesday. The incident occurred near Jharsa Chowk when traffic zonal officer Ravindra Singh, who was on duty at the junction, noticed an e-rickshaw approaching from the Sector 15 side. Suspecting that the driver was underage, the officer stopped the vehicle and questioned the boy.
Boy's Statement to Police
The boy told officials that he was driving the e-rickshaw to deliver laundry clothes for washing on behalf of the vehicle owner. He also informed police that he was 14 years and 6 months old and that both his parents had died. After verifying the information, the traffic officer alerted the police control room and the Civil Lines police station.
Legal Action Taken
A case was registered against the vehicle owner under Section 79 of the Juvenile Justice Act, which pertains to the exploitation of a child employee, and Section 180 of the Motor Vehicles Act, which deals with permitting an unauthorised person to drive a vehicle. ASI Vikas Verma, traffic police spokesperson, stated that the action was part of an ongoing campaign against traffic violations and illegal employment of minors in the city.
Officers confirmed that the accused, a resident of Pataudi currently staying in Sirhaul, has not yet been arrested but will be asked to join the investigation. The station house officer of Civil Lines police station emphasised that there is zero tolerance towards offences involving minors.
