Mumbai: Terming the newly framed Maharashtra City Auto Taxi Rules as “biased” towards the kaali-peeli taxis, the Bombay High Court on Thursday asked the government to hold a rational view and provide a platform for healthy and fair competition. The HC observed that mere plain reading of the rules show that the government is against the app-based vehicles like Ola and Uber.
The Division Bench of Justice Rajendra Savant and Justice Sadhana Jadhav heard a bunch of petitions filed by drivers of app-based vehicles and Uber India. The petitions have challenged the Maharashtra City Auto Taxi Rules, 2017 that has barred them from plying in Mumbai.
After perusing the rules, the judges said, “A plain reading of the rules clearly shows the discrimination. It seems that the government is biased towards the kaali peeli cabs and is against the app-based vehicles.” “In our view, the government must treat everyone equally. Instead of discrimination, the government must provide a platform for healthy and fair competition,” the judges added.
Posting the matter for further hearing next month, the judges asked the government to reconsider its rules and be rational towards everyone. The judges also asked the government to be a trendsetter in the country by allowing Ola and Uber to ply on a par with kaali peeli cabs.
