The plight of bike-taxi drivers in Delhi

Synopsis The High Court, in its May 26 order, had essentially allowed bike-taxi aggregators Rapido and Uber to operate in the national capital by asking the Delhi government not to take any coercive action against them until a new policy on the matter was formulated. The apex court, however, stayed the High Court order on Monday. Representative Image For many bike-taxi drivers who were making a living by driving on Delhi roads, their last hope of returning to work is almost over now.

The new year began on bad note for these drivers, when the Delhi government began its crackdown on such vehicles, forcing many of them to return to their home-towns. But the Delhi High Court’s direction disallowing any coercive action against bike-taxi aggregators offered them some relief, but on Monday the top court stayed the High Court’s order, which brought despair to those who were hopeful to return to the National Capital to as bike-taxi drivers, reported PTI. The High Court, in its May 26 order, had essentially allowed bike-taxi aggregators Rapido and Uber to operate in the national capital by asking the Delhi government not to take any coercive action against them until a new policy on the matter was formulated.

The apex court, however, stayed the High Court order on Monday. A vacation bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Rajesh Bindal has granted liberty to both Rapido and Uber to request an urgent hearing of their pleas by the Delhi HC. The bench has also recorded the Delhi government counsel’s submission that the final policy will be notified before July-end.

“I had come back to Azamgarh after the Delhi government’s crackdown. But I was planning to come back to Delhi after the High Court decision. But this is bad news.

I had specially bought a two-wheeler by mortgaging some jewellery. But going by the situation, now I will be forced to buy a four-wheeler and drive it commercially,” Anand Rai told PTI over phone. The Delhi government’s crackdown had made it extremely difficult to drive bike-taxis, Rai said.

“We had started accepting rides from Gurugram, Noida and Ghaziabad at that time but even there the policemen used to harass us,” he said. Thirty-year-old Rai has a wife and two children. Gyanesh, who has a five-month-old daughter, said he will go back to his home town in UP as there would be no work for him in Delhi.

“I was earning a decent amount through bike-taxi for the last two-and-a-half years. But now, if they will ban us again, it will be a loss to customers and us also. My wife and family stay in our home town and I send them money.

But now if this source of income ends, I will go back home and do something,” the 23-year old said. Mohammad Amir (23), a resident of Ghaziabad, echoed similar views as his counterparts saying the employment of several people will be affected by the latest court order. However, Rajendra Soni, general secretary of Delhi Auto Rickshaw Sangh , welcomed the Supreme Court decision and said that it comes at the right time.

“These bike-taxis are doing business despite having private numberplates. They took away the employment of so many autorickshaw drivers and caused loss to the government since they did not have to pay any tax. We demand that the aggregators should be slapped with a fine of 10 lakh if bike-taxis are found plying on the roads,” he told PTI.

Earlier in February, the transport department had cautioned bike-taxis against plying on the roads of Delhi, warning that it was a violation of the Motor Vehicles Act , 1988, that would make aggregators liable for a fine of Rs 1 lakh. Don’t miss out on ET Prime stories! Get your daily dose of business updates on WhatsApp. click here! Monday, 12 Jun, 2023 Experience Your Economic Times Newspaper, The Digital Way! Read Complete Print Edition » Front Page Pure Politics Brands & Companies Companies More Lenders Replace Go First’s Key Bankruptcy Officials Lenders to Go First Airlines are seeking to take full control of the carrier’s resolution process at the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), having replaced key bankruptcy-related officials appointed by the company that took itself to NCLT.

Sekhmet, Nirma in Fray for Glenmark’s API Biz Sekhmet Pharmaventures is competing with Ahmedabad-based Nirma Group to acquire Glenmark Life Sciences (GLS), an 82. 85% subsidiary of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd (GPL), as pharmacist promoter Glenn Saldanha looks to deleverage the balance sheet. Master App in Works to Ease EV Charging The Centre is planning a master app that will show real-time availability of electric vehicle (EV) charging slots nearby on a map, to ease range anxiety and boost adoption.

Read More News on Capital transport department supreme court national capital motor vehicles act delhi auto rickshaw sangh drivers rapido and uber (Catch all the Business News , Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times . ) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News. .

. . more less ETPrime stories of the day Strategy Stock Radar: SAIL could retest 52-week highs in next 3-4 weeks; watch out for 85 levels 3 mins read Transportation Lessons from Balasore: why the railways need to invest in high-quality tracks, maintain them 12 mins read Climate Change Will RIL boss Mukesh Ambani slice the Gordian Knot to help COP break free 9 mins read Subscribe to ETPrime.