Following the Supreme Court's last year order to increase the number of autos from 55,000 to a lakh, the Delhi government issued notification on August 8, inviting applications from auto drivers to issue 10,000 new permits in the first phase and said 35,0000 more autos would get permits in the next phase.
The bench of Chief Justice D Murugesan and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw has decided to hear the plea on October 17.
Filing a petition, a group of autorickshaw unions, including Bharatiya Tipahiya Chalak Sangh, alleged that the decision of the Delhi government is "violative of autorickshaw drivers' fundamental right to earn livelihood".
The auto drivers also alleged that the government's decision to issue permits in the phased manner would encourage the auto-finance-mafias who run the racket in connivance with transport officials.
"The process adopted for the issuance of permits is violative of the Delhi Motor Vehicle Rules. The process is prone to manipulation and is already causing black marketing of permits in violation of the Supreme Court's December 16, 1997 order.
"Respondents no 2 and 3 (auto companies) are misusing the process to drive autorickshaw drivers into the arms of auto-finance-mafia, who, in turn, are using the opportunity to sell vehicles at a hefty premium. This is adversely impacting the livelihood of autorickshaw drivers," the petition stated.
While hearing a PIL in December 1997, the Supreme Court had put a cap of 55,000 auto permits to be issued by the government for the city roads but in 2011 the apex court had modified its earlier order and increased the number to one lakh.
