HC asks AAP govt to pay Rs 5,000 in fine for not responding to its notice

The Delhi High court on Thursday slapped a fine of Rs 5000 on the Aam Aadmi Party government for its failure to respond to a notice issued by it on a radio cab operator's plea alleging levy of excess road tax.

Justice AK Chawla also directed the government to file an affidavit on the plea within two weeks.

Magic Sewa, a cab operator, had claimed in its plea that it has been charged more road tax in comparison to the regular taxis. It had sought that directions be issued to the government to prohibit it from collecting excess road tax and take the amount which has been specified under Delhi Motor Vehicles Taxation Act.

The court fixed the next date of hearing to January 4, 2018.

In its petition, Magic Sewa had alleged that the government was also asking city taxi aggregators to submit bank guarantees of Rs 15 lakh which were in excess of what was permitted under the law.

"The respondent is collecting road tax from the petitioners' city taxis at a rate of Rs 1,980 whereas the rate of road tax specified under Delhi Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1962 is only Rs 605. The respondent also requires city taxis to obtain a licence whereas there is no such provision under the law," the petition said.

The plea has sought a refund or adjustment of excess road tax collected from the petitioners for the registration of their taxis and directions "prohibiting the respondent from requiring the petitioners to obtain a licence under the City Taxi Scheme, 2015".