Give details of phased out diesel cabs, Delhi HC asks Uber

The Delhi High Court on Friday directed app-based cab service provider Uber to file an affidavit giving details of the diesel cabs it has phased out within the national capital.

Justice Manmohan, who remarked that there was no "phasing out of diesel-based cabs by Uber", also asked the firm to also provide the registration number of diesel-based cabs it has phased out here.

"Uber to file affidavit within two weeks giving details of number of diesel-based taxis along with registration numbers it has phased out within in national capital," the court said and also asked the city government to verify the facts to be given by Uber. It posted the matter for December 3.

In a temporary relief, the court had earlier allowed Uber to operate on the condition that it shifts its fleet entirely to CNG from diesel in a phased manner by March next year.

Ola Cabs moved the court saying Uber was still allowing, from its platform, plying of diesel-based cabs and has not phased out these vehicles.

Advocate Naushad Ahmed Khan, appearing for Delhi government, told the court that Uber has been plying diesel cabs in Delhi and violating court's order that no diesel-based taxi can operate here.

Uber, however, denied the allegations saying as its business is in the national capital region, it is using diesel-based cabs there and "in Delhi we are using CNG cabs".

"In Delhi we are not expanding diesel cabs and will not expand. As far as diesel-based cabs expansion is concerned, it will be outside Delhi. We will not use new diesel registration car within national capital," senior advocate Rajiv Nayyar, appearing for the company, told the court.

The court had made it clear in previous hearings that it was not going to allow diesel vehicles to ply point-to-point services in the capital. It had asked Uber to submit in an affidavit a monthly schedule on how they intend to phase out diesel vehicles before March 1, 2016.