A division bench of Justices N H Patil and S B Shukre was hearing a petition filed by NGO Mumbai Grahak Panchayat seeking contempt action against auto and taxi unions for going on strike last month.
According to the NGO, the unions had violated a 2013 order of the high court which had asked the them not to resort to strikes in future.
The NGO had moved the court after taxi and auto-rickshaw unions went on strike on June 15 and 17 in the city. The taxi and rickshaw drivers had gone on a strike seeking implementation of a proposed hike in fares and against scrapping of Hakim Committee which recommended it.
The unions have to file their affidavits in three weeks.
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The state government had earlier approached the court seeking approval for the proposed fare hike announced by the Mumbai Metropolitan Road Transport Authority. The state informed that it had formed a high-level committee headed by a retired judge of the Bombay High Court after scrapping the Hakim Committee.
The HC approval is necessary as a PIL by Mumbai Grahak Panchayat had challenged the Hakim panel and its findings a few years ago.
As per the revised rates, the minimum fare for auto is expected to go up from Rs 17 to Rs 18, while taxi fare from the minimum Rs 21 to Rs 22.