Bombay high court to decide on Tuesday on hike in taxi and auto fares

The Bombay high court is set to pass the order on the hike on taxis and auto fares on Tuesday. A division bench of justices Abhay Oka and AS Chandurkar on Monday directed the state to give an undertaking that they will not enforce the fare hike till the time they ensure that all the meters are calibrated.

The HC has asked the govt to file an affidavit giving the undertaking and kept the matter for passing order on Tuesday.

The HC is hearing a PIL filed by consumer body, Mumbai Grahak Panchayat, challenging the proposed Rs2 fare hike for taxis and autos.

Advocate general Darius Khambata argued that the hike was reasonable and that the govt should be allowed to implement it.

The recent fare hike has been proposed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA) and request forwarded to the govt. Uday Warunjikar, the advocate for the petitioner, argued that MMRTA was only the implementing authority and that it cannot give suggestions for the hike.

However, Khambata argued that MMRTA can also give suggestions, which is up to the govt to accept or decline.

State officials had, on June 20, decided on a fare hike of Rs2 from the current flag down rate of Rs15 for autos. The hike for taxis was also set at Rs 21, from the current Rs19.

Accordingly, the govt had moved the HC earlier this month as the fare had to be implemented from July 10, as per the recommendations of the Hakim Committee.

Following a PIL by Mumbai Grahak Panchayat, the HC had stayed the fare hike in 2012. Hence, the govt cannot implement the fare hike without the permission of the HC, to ensure that it is not termed as contempt of court.