Court summons Ola, Uber for fares violation

A court here on Monday issued summons to app-based cab service providers, including Ola and Uber, for allegedly not adhering to rules related to fares.

Metropolitan Magistrate Abhilash Malhotra asked the companies to be present through authorised representative on the next date of hearing, December 11.

The court order came on a complaint filed by NGO 'Nyayabhoomi' through its Secretary, Rakesh Agarwal.

The complaint was filed against ANI Technologies Pvt. Ltd. which runs Ola, Uber India Systems Pvt. Ltd., and the Serendipity Infolabs Pvt. Ltd. which runs 'Taxi For Sure'.

"Prima facie, it is clear that excess fare has been charged by the respondent company in violation of Motor Vehicles (MV) Act notification dated June 20, 2013, as well as City Taxi Scheme (CTS)," the court said.

"Accordingly, prima facie permit violation under Section 192A of MV Act is made out," the court said.

The NGO has sought recovery of a whopping Rs 91,000 crore from cab service providers for allegedly not adhering to rules relating to fares and not operating by metres.

It has also sought lodging of an FIR against them, alleging that by providing taxi and auto rickshaw services, they were violating permit conditions which amounted to commission of offences under Sections 66 and 192A of the MV Act.

The complainant has alleged that cab service providers did not obtained licence under provisions of the MV Act to run the public service vehicles in Delhi and violated the City Taxi Scheme.

The court observed that a Transport Department notification dated June 20, 2013, prescribed for the minimum fare per kilometre, night charges, waiting charges and flag down charges.

The complainant apprised the court that under the CTS, a taxi driver must have a public service vehicle badge and electronic digital fare metres on the front panel of the vehicle.

He alleged that the digital fare metres were not working and the fares were calculated through the app.

The court observed that Ola and Uber are acting as aggregators who are deciding the drivers, customer allocation, fares, SOS protocols and other administrative issues.

--IANS

akk/ahm/vt