Two-Wheeler Taxis Cannot Operate In Delhi For Now, Says SC

In a blow to cab aggregators, the Supreme Court on Monday said that two-wheeler taxis cannot operate in Delhi until the government formulates a policy. The Delhi government has announced that they will establish a policy regarding the operation of non-transport two-wheeler vehicles by June 30.

The apex court heard two pleas filed by the Delhi Government against the high court order permitting bike-taxi aggregators, Rapido and Uber, to operate in the national capital till notification of the final policy by the administration on plying of two-wheeler non-transport vehicles.

As per the cause list available on the apex court's website, a vacation bench comprising Justices Aniruddha Bose and Rajesh Bindal will hear the AAP government's pleas on June 12.

The AAP government has filed a challenge in the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court's order on May 26, which instructed the government not to take any coercive action against bike-taxi aggregators until the final policy was notified.

During the proceedings, senior advocate Manish Vashisht, representing the Delhi government, argued that the high court's decision to stay the government's notice until the final policy was notified was akin to granting relief to Rapido through its writ petition.

On May 26, the high court issued a notice to the Delhi government in response to Rapido's plea challenging a law that excluded two-wheelers from being registered as transport vehicles. The court directed that no coercive action should be taken against the bike-taxi aggregator until the final policy was notified.

The high court listed Rapido's plea before the registrar on August 22 for completion of pleading and stated, "The counsel for the petitioners (Rapido) submits that the policy is under active consideration."

Accordingly, the high court stayed the notice and clarified that the stay would remain in effect until the final policy was notified. However, once the final policy is notified, if the petitioners are still aggrieved, they are free to take appropriate steps before the relevant forum, as per the high court's statement.