The High Court on Monday extended the interim order directing cab aggregators not to introduce surge pricing and asked the government not to insist on police verification reports for processing the applications for grant of licence to the aggregator companies.
Justice Aravind Kumar extended the order, following an undertaking given by the government that they will not take any coercive action to implement the newly introduced Karnataka On-Demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Rules, 2016, and that they will not seize the vehicles.
The petitioners - Uber India, one of the aggregators, and others - have challenged the newly framed aggregator rules, stating that the rules are framed erroneously by implementing Section 93 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, with the on-demand transportation technology aggregator platforms and service providers being considered as agents/canvassers, relying on the said Act.
The petitioners have contended that they are providing a digital platform by connecting existing taxi drivers holding valid permits to passengers seeking taxi services, through the mobile phone application. Hence, they come under Information Technology Act, not under Motor Vehicles Act, the petitioners said and have sought a stay on the rules. The bench adjourned the hearing to July 7.
Commercial use of land
The High Court has directed those claiming to be owners of 24 acres of land in Pantharapalya near Hosakerehalli not to use the area for any commercial purpose.
A C Ananthaswamy, one of the claimants, had questioned the eviction drive by the deputy commissioner of Bengaluru Urban district on July 2 when government land worth Rs 1,200 crore was recovered. Advocate General Madhusudhan R Naik submitted to the court that the eviction drive was carried out as the 24 acres of land was encroached upon by a private party. Justice Ashok B Hinchigeri passed an order to maintain status quo and adjourned the hearing for a week.
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