Delhi Govt Vs Rapido: Supreme Court Adjourns The Hearing Till June 9

SUMMARY

The Delhi government has challenged the order of the Delhi HC staying the notice issued to Rapido till June 9

Earlier, the Delhi HC stayed the Delhi Transport Department’s order banning bike taxi services and asked the government to not take any coercive action against Rapido

Rapido has contended that the notice to ban two-wheelers carrying passengers on a commercial basis in the capital city was issued without any strong reason

The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday (June 7) reportedly adjourned the hearing on the Delhi government’s plea challenging the Delhi High Court’s order staying the notice issued to Rapido till June 9.

The vacation bench of justices Aniruddha Bose and Rajesh Bindal deferred the matter after advocate NK Paul, who appeared for Uber, said that its matter was similar but not listed for hearing on Wednesday, news agency PTI reported.

Paul requested for adjourning the hearing till June 9 and the court agreed to this.

The Delhi government moved the SC last week after the Delhi HC stayed the Delhi Transport Department’s order banning bike taxi services and asked the government to not take any coercive action against Rapido.

Earlier, advocate Manish Vashisht, appearing for the government, sought an urgent hearing on the plea.

The Delhi Transport Department and Rapido have been engaged in a legal battle since the latter banned bike taxi services in the national capital. The transport department said that bike taxis found to be operating in violation of its order would be liable to pay a fine of up to INR 1 Lakh.

In its petition, Rapido contended that the notice to ban two-wheelers carrying passengers on a commercial basis in the capital city was issued without any strong reason.

The Rapido plea claimed, “The direction issued by the transport department under the impugned notice is ex-facie arbitrary and passed without following due process under law, without providing any reasons for such prohibition.”

It must be noted that the Delhi government came out with a draft motor vehicle aggregator and delivery services provider scheme last month. Under it, the government has proposed to allow bike taxi services only for electric two-wheelers.

This is not the first time that bike aggregators are involved in a tussle with the state governments. Earlier, the Maharashtra government also banned Rapido and refused to grant it an aggregator licence.

Besides Rapido, Uber and Ola also provide bike taxi aggregator services.