Ola tells HC it will not run diesel cabs

Ola told the court that in compliance of its order, the company’s diesel taxis would be restricted to inter-city travel only from Thursday.

It said “the company will not make available on ‘Ola technology platform’, All India Tourist Permit (AITP) taxis operating on diesel on point-to-point in the national Capital territory of Delhi.” 

It also said that necessary software for the same has been developed and installed and has become operational from 10 am on Thursday. ANI Technologies, which operates under the brand of Ola, made the submissions before Justice Manmohan who directed the company to place before it an affidavit by October 5 showing it has complied with the court’s July 29 order as well as the licence guidelines.

On July 29, the high court had upheld Delhi government’s January 1 order by which all app-based cab services which did not conform to the modified Radio Taxi Scheme were banned from operating in the city. The single-judge order was challenged by Ola before a division bench which had dismissed its appeal on August 11.  The high court had on August 11 dismissed Ola’s appeal against its July 29 order, saying the company was “factually incorrect” to contend non-CNG commercial vehicles like diesel cabs, were not barred from plying in the national Capital. Subsequently, an Association of Radio Taxis moved the high Court alleging that despite orders of July 29 and August 11, Ola was operating cabs running on diesel in the city.