No coercive action against taxi aggregators: Delhi HC to AAP govt

Court was hearing an application filed by Uber seeking quashing of challans issued against taxis for not having calibrated meters

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the Aam Aadmi Party government not to take any coercive action against taxi aggregators, such as Uber and Ola, till a special panel submits its report on the formulation of a uniform policy to regulate these entities.

The court was hearing an application filed by Uber seeking the quashing of challans issued against taxis for not having calibrated meters. The application also wanted directions to be made prohibiting the authorities from taking any adverse action against affiliated vehicles of these app-based entities.

The advocate appearing for the Delhi government informed the Bench that transport officials have been orally instructed not to take any action against the cabs during the pendency of the court proceedings.

The government had earlier stated that the aggregators would not be immune from violation of the law, merely because the formulation of a uniform policy was underway.

"Please stay out ... till the matter is pending. Trust them. They (taxi aggregators) are following your directions," the judge told the government counsel. The court, however, said if there were any violation of the undertaking given by the companies on the issue of surge pricing, action was to be taken against them.

The court had previously set August 22 as the deadline to stop charging passengers more than the government-prescribed rates.

It had also earlier directed a special committee of senior officials of the central pollution control board, the ministry of information technology and Delhi Traffic Police to examine all issues relating to existing permits given to taxis and cab aggregators.