Delhi Court Summons Ola, Uber for Allegedly Violating Permit Rules

An NGO has sought recovery of Rs 91,000 crore from Ola and Uber for not following rules relating to fares.

An Uber app screenshot used for representation. 

(Photo: Reuters)

A Delhi court summoned app-based cab service providers Ola and Uber on 31 July, as accused for allegedly violating permit rules. The two firms’ representatives have been directed to appear before the court on 11 December.

Metropolitan Magistrate Abhilash Malhotra, was originally scheduled to pass the order on Saturday, 29 July, but couldn’t as he was on leave.

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The court had earlier recorded pre-summoning evidence advanced by complainant NGO, Nyayabhoomi, through its secretary Rakesh Agarwal, in support of the complaint which also sought summoning of the three firms as accused.

The court, however, had treated as "dismissed as withdrawn" an application filed by the same NGO seeking lodging of FIR against three app-based cab service providers, Ola, Uber and 'Taxi for Sure', holding that the offences alleged in the plea under the Motor Vehicles (MV) Act were "non-cognisable".

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It had allowed the complainant to lead evidence in support of the complaint under the CrPC that these three cab companies were also allegedly violating permit conditions by running vehicles on diesel and providing point-to-point service in Delhi, violating Supreme Court orders.

The NGO has sought recovery of a whopping Rs 91,000 crore from cab service providers for allegedly not adhering to rules relating to fares and not operating by meters.

It had sought lodging of FIR alleging that by providing taxi and auto rickshaw services, they were violating permit conditions which amounted to commission of offence under the MV Act.

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The complaint was filed against ANI Technologies Pvt Ltd which runs Ola, Uber India Systems Pvt Ltd and the Serendipity Infolabs Pvt Ltd which runs 'Taxi For Sure'.

The NGO has also sought recovery of an additional penalty of Rs 26,000 crore from the firms and jail term for them.

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