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The Karnataka High Court stayed the transport commissioner's order banning cab aggregators like Ola and Uber from plying autos and bikes on their platforms. After hearing the petition filed by Ola, Uber, and Rapido, Justice BP Sreenivase Gowda directed all parties — cab aggregators and auto unions — not to obstruct the functioning of bike and auto drivers.
In a major setback for the auto and taxi unions, Karnataka High Court has allowed Ola and Uber to operate Auto services in the state.
The Karnataka High Court has allowed Ola and Uber to operate Auto services in the state while staying the transport commissioner's order banning cab aggregators from plying autos and bikes on their platform.
The court also directed all parties to the case not to obstruct the functioning of bike and auto drivers.
The High Court has also stayed a circular issued by the transport commissioner banning all cab aggregators from plying autos and bikes on their platform until further orders.
This comes after the high court granted an interim stay to the state government last week to allow Ola, Uber, and Rapido to operate their auto services.
The transport commissioner had directed all parties in the case not to obstruct the functioning of bike and auto drivers who were using these apps for work purposes but were being harassed by authorities.
After hearing the petition filed by Ola, Uber, and Rapido, Justice BP Sreenivase Gowda directed all parties to the case — cab aggregators and auto unions — not to obstruct the functioning of bike and auto drivers.
The court has ordered that all auto drivers who want to work with these cab aggregators can do so without any obstruction as long as they have valid driving licenses.
This is a victory for commuters who want more choices when hailing an Auto in Bangalore.
The court also issued a notice to state taxi unions and transport authorities asking them why they had banned these app-based aggregators from plying autos and bikes on their platform.
The court has asked the state to explain how it plans to enforce such a ban, if at all when there is no law or rules in place that can be used as a basis for such an order.
Conclusion
The Karnataka High Court has allowed Ola, Uber, and Rapido to continue with their Auto services. The court has stayed the transport commissioner's order banning cab aggregators from plying autos and bikes on their platform. This is good news for commuters who want more choices when hailing an Auto in Bangalore.
