The Supreme Court is set to hear two pleas filed by the Delhi government on Monday, challenging the Delhi High Court's order allowing bike-taxi aggregators, Rapido and Uber, to operate in the capital until the final policy on non-transport two-wheeler vehicles is notified. The AAP government has argued that coercive action should not be taken against bike-taxi aggregators until the final policy is in place. The bench of justices Aniruddha Bose and Rajesh Bindal will hear the pleas and seek the stand of the Union of India on the matter.
Rapido, the bike-taxi aggregator, had filed a petition in the high court challenging the exclusion of two-wheelers from being registered as transport vehicles. The court directed that no coercive action be taken against Rapido until the final policy is notified. The high court stayed the government's notice and stated that the policy was under active consideration. The Delhi government had issued a public notice earlier this year cautioning bike-taxis against operating in the city, with violators being subjected to fines.
In its petition, Rapido argued that the Delhi government's order to stop plying non-transport two-wheelers without a valid license was passed without reason or rationale. The company also challenged a show-cause notice issued by the government, stating that it violated fundamental and constitutional rights and was passed without following principles of natural justice. The plea highlighted that the city government's conduct contradicted the intent and object of the Centre with respect to issuing licenses to aggregators as laid down in the Motor Vehicles Act and the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will also hear another plea filed by the Delhi government challenging the high court's order staying the government's notification to ban bike-taxi services without a proper license. The Delhi government had expressed the need for an early hearing, citing the violation of motor vehicle regulations and the lack of basic security arrangements for customers and drivers. The government aims to bring in a policy for cab aggregator companies within a month.
Source: Link
Picture Source :
