SC Seeks Centre’s Response On AAP Govt’s Plea Against HC Order Staying Notice To Bike-Taxi Aggregators

The Supreme Court on Friday sought the Central Government response on a plea made by the Delhi government.

The plea challenges a Delhi High Court order that stayed a notice issued to Rapido, a bike-taxi aggregator, allowing it to continue its operations until a final policy is notified.

A vacation bench of Justice Aniruddha Bose and Justice Rajesh Bindal directed that copies of the petitions be served to Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.

“Let the copy of both petitions be served upon the Solicitor General so that views of the Union of India can be taken into account. List on Monday,” the bench directed.

Last month, the Delhi High Court ruled that no coercive action could be taken against bike-taxi aggregators like Rapido and Uber, as well as their users, until proper regulations were formulated by the government to oversee their operations.

The high court, which scheduled Rapido’s plea for completion of pleading on August 22 before the registrar, mentioned, “The counsel for the petitioners (Rapido) states that the policy is under active consideration.”

“Accordingly, we hereby stay the notice and clarify that the stay shall remain in effect until the final policy is notified. However, once the final policy is notified, if the petitioners still feel aggrieved, they are free to take appropriate measures before the suitable forum,” the High Court further added.

Earlier this year, the Delhi transport department declared that bike taxis were not permitted in the capital. It further stated that app-based aggregators using personal bikes as taxis, in violation of the Motor Vehicles Act, would need to cease the service, or else they would face a fine of Rs 1 lakh.

Roppen Transportation Services Private Limited, the operator of Rapido, filed a moved the high court, asserting that the Delhi government’s order was passed without any justification or rationale.