Bombay High Court Calls For State's Affidavit On Steps Taken To Implement 2023 Resolution Prohibiting Plying Of Bike Taxis

The Bombay High Court today ordered the Maharashtra Government to file an affidavit spelling out the steps undertaken to implement the January 19, 2023, Government Resolution (GR) by which bike taxis were prohibited from plying across the State.

A division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne asked the State to file an affidavit listing down the steps taken to implement the January 2023 GR in letter and spirit.

"Let an affidavit be filed spelling out the compliance with the 2023 GR," the CJ said.

The judges also pulled up the petitioners - autorickshaw drivers, for bringing up a "personal cause."

"This isn't a Public Interest Litigation but a Personal Interest Litigation. This is not a genuine PIL as you are personally aggrieved because people are using bike taxis and not autorickshaws. How can you decide if travelling in a bike taxi is safe or in an autorickshaw is safe? Who will decide?" CJ Aradhe remarked.

The Chief Justice further said that in the next hearing, scheduled after three weeks, the bench will put up some "inconvenient questions" to the petitioners as they (judges) have prima facie opined that this is a Personal Interest Litigation.

Meanwhile, government counsel informed the bench that already directives have been issued to the traffic department across the State not to permit such bike taxis and to stop them if found plying and also to impose fines.

The counsel further informed the judges that the 2023 GR is being implemented by the traffic authorities and that significant fines have been recovered in areas like Thane.

The State counsel also informed that a process of registering a complaint with the Azad Maidan Police station is also underway to ensure that Rapido stops providing the bike taxi service in its app under the IT Act.

The matter will next be heard after three weeks.