In Re: T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India 2025 INSC 996 - Hand Pulled Carts Rickshaws
"The practice of permitting hand pulled carts/rickshaws needs to be stopped forthwith"
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Constitution of India - Article 23 - The practice of permitting hand pulled carts/rickshaws needs to be stopped forthwith. Permitting such an inhuman practice, which hits the concept of human dignity in a country like India, which is marching towards becoming a developed country from a developing country, belittles the constitutional promise of social and economic justice. [Directions issued]
Case Info
Case Name and Neutral Citation
- Case Name: In Re: T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India and Others
- Neutral Citation: 2025 INSC 996
Coram (Judges)
- B.R. Gavai, Chief Justice of India (CJI)
- K. Vinod Chandran, J
- N.V. Anjaria, J
Judgment Date
- Date: August 6, 2025
Caselaws and Citations Referred
- People’s Union for Democratic Rights and Others v. Union of India and Others
- Citation: (1982) 3 SCC 235
- Discussed regarding Article 23 of the Constitution and forced labour.
- Azad Rickshaw Pullers’ Union and Others v. State of Punjab and Another
- Citation: (1980) Supp. SCC 601
- Discussed regarding rehabilitation of manual rickshaw pullers and social justice.
Statutes/Laws Referred
- Constitution of India
- Article 23: Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour.
- Article 38: Social justice and the promotion of welfare of the people.
- Matheran Rules, 1959
- Mentioned in context of amendments for e-rickshaw use.
- Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ) Notification
- Dated 4th February 2003, restricting vehicular traffic in Matheran.
- Directive Principles of State Policy
- Referenced regarding the State’s duty to ensure social and economic justice.
Other References
- Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) Notifications
- Draft and final notifications regarding Matheran as an Eco Sensitive Zone.
- Reports by IIT Bombay and NEERI
- Expert reports on environmental impact and soil erosion.
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#SupremeCourt has ordered that the practice of permitting hand pulled carts/rickshaws needs to be stopped forthwith.
— CiteCase 🇮🇳 (@CiteCase) August 18, 2025
Permitting such an inhuman practice, belittles the constitutional promise of social and economic justice, the Court said. pic.twitter.com/JOpnAd2KD4
