Mangaluru: Honorary president of Youth Electrical Auto Drivers, Owners Association, Lawrence D’Souza, Saturday, urged that permits be granted to the 2,500 electric autorickshaws purchased before Oct 31, 2025.D’Souza told the media that high court has stayed two conditions imposed by Dakshina Kannada district administration for granting permits to electric autos operating in the city. Under the district administration’s instructions, 1,500 drivers and owners have applied for permits, while the rest are yet to do so. The association plans to request the DC to extend the application deadline by another month, he said.D’Souza said autorickshaws earlier operated on petrol and diesel, but with the nationwide introduction of electric autos to curb environmental pollution, unemployed youth here have also purchased e-autos. Auto drivers submitted a petition to the DC opposing certain restrictions, and after several meetings, the then DC ordered that autorickshaws purchased before July 26, 2024, could be operated.Following a court stay on that order, the current DC issued an order on Dec 6, 2025, stipulating five conditions and directing all auto drivers to obtain permits. Only 250 applications were submitted. A review found that many drivers did not meet the eligibility criteria because of these conditions, he said.The association then approached high court, which stayed two conditions — the requirement of five years’ residence in Mangaluru city and the rule that only the permit-holder could drive the auto. In this context, they have insisted that permits be granted to all auto drivers, he added.Association legal adviser Manoraj Rajeev and others were present.
