The Delhi High Court on Monday asked the Aam Aadmi Party Government to conduct a meeting with app-based cab service provider companies within a week and ask whether they are interested in getting fresh licence from the Government or not. As of now, the taxi service companies are functioning on All India Tourist Permit.
Besides Ola and Uber, the court also asked the Government to convene a meeting with another public transport service which offers ride in autorickshaw through an app called ‘Jugnoo’.
“This court is of the view that the Secretary, Transport Department of the Delhi Government, shall convene a meeting with all the stakeholders (three app-based companies) to see if they are interested in getting the licence. The companies authorised representatives shall attend the meeting and share their views on the issue,” said the court, adding the same be held in a week from Monday.
Earlier, the court was told by the Delhi Government that these aggregators are operating illegally and are unlicensed as their license was rejected by the Transport Department on June 28
last year.
Obliging with the court order, the app-based companies said they have no issue in getting the license and earlier their representation to the Government were turned down. Hearing which, the court said the Government should give them a chance to apply for fresh licence, as at present the Delhi Government has shortage of public transport.
“There should be some proper facility so that public do not have to suffer. Call all the stakeholders and float a fair scheme,” said the court, adding that “if all of you sit together, I know the difficulties raised by the taxi operators will come to an end”.
The court said the status report of the meeting shall be filed by May 10.
The court was hearing a plea filed by Magic Sewa Pvt ltd which has alleged that certain unlicensed taxi aggregators “have been disdainfully violating” Government’s notification on fares by charging very low amounts like Rs 5 per km or as high as Rs 38 per km.