Tampering led to move, Bombay HC told

The state government has told the Bombay high court that the decision to install e-meters in autorickshaws was taken after several complaints of meter-tampering cropped up.

An affidavit to this effect was filed by deputy transport commissioner Laxman Khade on Tuesday, while replying to a petition by the Mumbai Autorickshawmen Union that has sought quashing of the government notification, dated February 17, 2012, that makes e-meters mandatory for all autorickshaws in the state in a phased manner.

By making e-meters mandatory, the government has “eliminated the possibility of passengers being cheated by use of non-genuine tariff cards,” says the affidavit, adding that in all 4,823 complaints, mostly over fast meters, refusal to ply and non-functional meters among others, were received between April 1, 2011 and January 31, 2012.

During this time, apart from the state collecting Rs10.31 lakh as compounding fee or fines, the transport department has suspended permits of 2,371 autorickshaws and driving licences of 1,710 drivers.

Emphasising that the government has also arranged for the necessary infrastructure required to manufacture the e-meters, the affidavit said the e-meters are tested by an approved institute, which will also seal them. Tampering with this seal will be reflected at the time of the yearly testing of the same, which is mandatory.

The cost of the e-meters is in the range of Rs 1,800 to Rs 3,000, which is almost at par with the current mechanical meters, the government has clarified.
The high court has kept the petition for hearing on March 26.