HC asks Delhi govt to convene meeting with app-based operators

The Delhi High Court today asked the AAP government to convene within a week a meeting with representatives of app-based cab aggregators Ola and Uber, which are allegedly operating "illegally", to see if they are interested in getting fresh licence from the government.
Besides these two stakeholders, Justice J R Midha also asked the Delhi government to call 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 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," the court said, adding the same be held in a week from today.
The court's suggestion in form of an order came after it was told that alleged unlicensed aggregators, Ola and Uber, are operating illegally as their applications for licence were rejected by the transport department on June 28, 2015.
Meanwhile, counsel appearing for the app-based companies told the court that they have no issue in getting the licence 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," the court said, 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.
Magic Sewa said this was an urgent issue as during the
ongoing odd-even scheme, app-based taxi service operators were flouting fare rules and charging exorbitantly from customers.
It alleged that unlicensed taxi aggregators "also charge the so-called 'peak time charge' or 'surge price' over and above the normal fares on a day and time of their own choosing. This 'peak time charge' or 'surge price' could be as high as five times the normal fare published by the unlicensed taxi aggregators".

It also alleged that app-based cab companies were not complying with the City Taxi Scheme, 2015 or the fares notified under the Motor Vehicles Act.
Ola and Uber, however, opposed the contention raised in the petition, saying they have all India permit licence and are not governed by the Delhi government's scheme as this lies in the central government domain.
Senior standing counsel Rahul Mehra, appearing for Delhi government, said companies cannot be allowed to charge more than prescribed rates of fare in the shape of 'surge price' or 'peak time charge'.
He further submitted that to "regulate auto rickshaws and taxi services, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) under relevant provisions introduced a scheme called 'City Taxi Scheme 2015' vide notification dated August 26, 2015."

Mehra contended that if they comply, "we are ready to hear them and give them license."
The court observed that in today's situation we have to find a solution.
"If you (Delhi government) have reduced vehicular movement in the capital, then you will have to organise better public transport," the court said, adding that "you (Delhi government and app based taxi operators) put an end to it".