No decision on auto fare hike till June 12: Maha govt tells HC

Maharashtra government today told the Bombay High Court that it would not take any decision on increasing the fares of auto rickshaws and taxis until June 12 when the High Court would hear a PIL challenging the hike.
A division bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and Amjad Sayed was hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by NGO Mumbai Grahak Panchayat challenging the fare hike based on the recommendations made by the Hakim committee.
Advocate Uday Warunjikar, appearing for the petitioner, informed the court that the hike was to be revised from May 1.
Advocate General Darius Khambata, however, told the court that the government has not taken any decision on the fare hike yet and would not take any decision until the court hears the petition in June.

The bench asked the government to hear the grievances of all parties involved including the consumers, taxi and auto rickshaw owners.
"The government shall duly consider the grievances of the consumers. Give us a feeling that the voice of the consumer has been heard before decision is taken on the fare hike. There might be a larger number of people using autos and taxis to travel than those who ply them," Justice Chandrachud said.
The court directed the government to hear representatives of the petitioner NGO and posted the matter on June 12.