Court gives nod to 40,000 new permits for auto drivers in Bangalore

This is news to those travelling frequently in autorickshaws, but a matter of concern for green warriors. The high court on Monday gave nod to the state government’s decision to give 40,000 new permits to the three-wheelers.

With the increase in permits, the city would have 1.25 lakh autorickshaws plying on its roads.

A division bench headed by acting chief justice Vikramjit Sen, dismissed the writ appeal filed by Mohammed Abbas, chairman, Karnataka State Auto Drivers’ Welfare Joint Action Committee, and other associations. The petitioners were challenging the single judge order dated July 13, dismissing the plea seeking cancellation of the proposed permits to 40,000 new autorickshaws.

The judge, while dismissing the plea, had observed that the increase in the permits will bring down the unhealthy competition among autorickshaws. It will also prevent the autorickshaw permits being issued in the black market.

The judge also observed that the periphery of Bangalore
had increased and hence the increase in autorickshaw permits is valid.

The autorickshaw associations challenged the government decision, contending that the increase in permits would benefit manufacturers and dealers, but not the public. Abbas further contended in his petition that the state government, while taking the decision, did not consider the road conditions and passenger density.

Further, it observed, the high court cannot interfere in the policy decisions of the government.

Following the high court judgment on Monday, Srinivasa Murthy, zonal committee president, Auto Rickshaw Drivers’ Union, said that there were other unions who were willing appeal the case before a double division bench. Murty claimed he had information that there were two companies who paid Rs8 crore to the government for more autorickshaw permits.

The state government had issued the order on March 23. The state has also decided to phase out two-stroke autorickshaws to protect the environment.

The permits will be issued only to four-stroke autorickshaws in order to protect the environment.