Do not violate order banning non-CNG cabs: HC

Violation of the order restricting diesel cabs from running point to point services in the national Capital will not be tolerated, the Delhi High Court warned on Friday.

“Violation of this court’s order not to ply diesel-run taxis from point to point within the national capital of Delhi will not be tolerated. If I have passed the order, it means my order has to be complied with and the authorities concerned have to take action,” Justice Manmohan said.

The judge further said CNG vehicles should be promoted as it will also reduce the pollution level in the city, which seems to be increasing day-by-day.

“Citizen of Delhi will also get good environment and they will have healthy life... An urge to own a car/vehicle in the city will also die down, if CNG cabs services are increased.

It will also add a new transport system to the existing fleet of the government,” the court said.

The court’s oral observations came during hearing of an application filed by ANI Technologies, the company that owns Ola, seeking direction to restrain Uber from plying diesel taxis on the capital roads on point to point basis.

Senior advocate Sandeep Sethi, appearing for Ola, alleged that despite the court ordering phasing out of diesel cabs by March 1, Uber India was spreading message among drivers that they have been allowed to operate on diesel, so they can leave Ola and work for them. He also claimed that Uber was not complying with October 14 order and inducting more cabs in its fleet.

Objecting to this, senior advocate Rajiv Nayar, representing Uber, said the company was complying with the court’s order and added it was using only CNG cabs in Delhi.

The court was also annoyed over Uber’s affidavit and said the reply filed by the company was not in conformity with its October 14 order.

Delhi government’s counsel Naushad Ahmed Khan also told the court that Uber has been plying diesel cabs and violating the orders. 

Uber, however, denied the allegations with Nayar contending that “in Delhi, we are not expanding diesel cabs and will not expand. As far as diesel-based cabs expansion is concerned, it will be outside Delhi. We will not use new diesel registration cars within the national capital.” 

Hearing this, the court asked Uber to file fresh affidavit within two weeks giving details of number of diesel vehicles they have phased out along with the registration number of the diesel cabs they have phased out.

The court asked Delhi government to verify the facts to be given by Uber. It, however, asked them not to share the information with the rival companies, after Uber expressed apprehension that the information may be leaked.