Delhi HC while setting aside the Delhi Government’s order banning the operation of taxi service provider Ola Cabs and said that “since the petitioner have not been afforded any opportunity of being heard, deem it appropriate to set aside the impugned order.” Court even directed the authorities to take a final decision on Ola Cabs’ representation within 10 days.
Court observed that, “since the petitioner (Ola Cabs) have not been afforded any opportunity of being heard, I deem it appropriate to set aside the impugned order and direct that the petition be considered as a representation by the appropriate authority.” The Delhi High Court on setting aside the Delhi government’s December 8 order banning the operation of mobile app-based taxi service provider Ola Cabs in the Capital without prior approval from the transport department.
Recently, after a passenger was allegedly raped by a driver contracted to US-based online cab company Uber, Government of Delhi banned all app-based taxi cabs running in Delhi. Subsequently, the transport department had asked all the web-based service providers such as Ola Cabs, Taxi for Sure, and TaxiPixi to get fresh licences in line with the Radio Taxi Scheme, 2006. However, the department allowed six radio taxi operators viz. Meru, Mega, Chanson, Yo, Air and Easy – to run taxi services in Delhi. Almost 10000 taxis that are associated with the app-based taxi services are affected by the Order issued by the Department.
Ola Cabs contended that unlike radio taxis they do not own the cabs which are provided to public. It submitted that the company was “only providing a technology infrastructure for availing the taxi service”.