High Court reprimands Ola for violating ban, declines relief

Justice Manmohan directed Delhi government and traffic police to “strictly enforce” their order of January 1, 2015, by which the operation of app-based cab services was banned till they complied with the guidelines of Radio Taxi Scheme of 2006 which was amended on December 26 last year.

The court passed the interim order while issuing notices to the Centre, traffic police and Delhi government seeking their response to Ola’s plea for lifting of the ban.

The court said the matter has to be heard extensively and listed the matter for further hearing on October 5.

The court refused to provide any relief to Ola, which is the brand name of ANI Technologies Pvt Ltd, saying its plea challenging the ban order was not only “inordinately delayed” by six months, but during the period it had violated the ban with “impunity”.

“The court is of the prima facie view that the petitioner thinks its vehicles don’t ply on the <g data-gr-id="22">road,</g> but fly in the air. This court is of the view that a ban has to be complied with till it is stayed or set aside by a court of competent jurisdiction,” Justice Manmohan also said.

The judge refused to lift the ban also on the ground that “since Delhi is regarded as one of the most polluted cities of the world and quality of diesel supplied has been adversely commented upon by the Supreme Court at various times, this court feels that it should err on the side of caution and not lift the ban till it is convinced there is no ban on plying of AITP taxis in the national Capital”.