Bombay High Court: Safety of commuters in autorickshaws, not knowing Marathi, must be priority

Source:- intoday.in

Bombay High Court today came down heavily on the Maharashtra government for insisting that knowledge of local topography and Marathi language was a must while giving permits to autorickshaw drivers but not taking action those autorickshaw drivers who refused to ply commuters as per their whims and fancies.

Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Anuja Prabhudesai were hearing a petition filed by the Mira Bhayander Auto Rickshaw Chalak Sangathan challenging a circular issued by the government to RTOs in 2016.

According to the circular issued on 23rd October 2015, the home department wrote a letter to the transport commissioner, saying that the autorickshaw permits which had lapsed would be reissued through the lottery system and that knowledge of Marathi as well as local topography were some of the mandatory conditions for obtaining permits. On 20th February 2016, the transport commissioner issued directions to the regional offices to test the knowledge of Marathi language of the applicants.

GRIEVANCES OF COMMUTERS INCLUDED IN EXPANDED PETITION

However, the scope of the petition was expanded by an earlier division bench of the Bombay High Court headed by Justice V M Kanade to include the grievances of commuters if the transport department of the state of Maharashtra dealt with them. During the hearing of the petition on Tuesday, Justice Oka asked the transport authority, “Taxis and autos cannot refuse passengers. Are you abiding by that? The area of priority for the state should be protection of passengers or emphasising language? What should be the emphasis be on? What is the immediate protection that can be offered to a passenger sitting in the autorickshaw?”

The advocate representing the transport commissioner said that he would file a detailed affidavit stating the facts. However, the public pleader, while defending the circular of the state goverment, had said that it was for the convenience of passengers that the government was insisting on Marathi language and knowledge of local topography.

The division bench of Justice Oka has started dictating the orders in the case and will be continuing to do so on Wednesday.