The Supreme Court (SC) has reportedly adjourned the hearing on the Delhi government’s plea challenging the Delhi High Court’s order regarding the notice issued to Rapido. The matter has been deferred until June 9, as informed by advocate NK Paul representing Uber.
The Delhi government approached the SC after the Delhi High Court stayed the Delhi Transport Department’s order to ban bike taxi services and instructed the government not to take any coercive action against Rapido.
Advocate Manish Vashisht, representing the government, had requested an urgent hearing on the plea.
The legal battle between the Delhi Transport Department and Rapido has been ongoing since the department banned bike taxi services in the national capital. The transport department warned that bike taxis operating in violation of the ban would face fines of up to INR 1 Lakh.
Rapido, in its petition, argued that the notice to ban commercial two-wheelers carrying passengers in the city was arbitrary and lacked valid reasons. The plea stated that the transport department’s direction was issued without following due process and without providing adequate justification for the prohibition.
It is worth noting that the Delhi government recently proposed a draft scheme for motor vehicle aggregators and delivery service providers, which allows bike taxi services exclusively for electric two-wheelers.
This is not the first instance of bike aggregators facing challenges with state governments. Previously, the Maharashtra government banned Rapido and denied it an aggregator license. Uber and Ola are also prominent providers of bike taxi aggregator services.
The adjournment of the hearing prolongs the legal battle between Rapido and the Delhi government, leaving the future of bike taxi services in the national capital uncertain.
