Bombay HC slammed Ola, Uber operating without valid licences

The Bombay High Court on Monday directed  Ola and Uber and all such aggregators to apply for valid licences by March 16 if they wish to continue operations. The HC, though, refrained from prohibiting such cabs from plying in the meanwhile saying it was aware such a move would adversely affect commuters."We are conscious that restraining aggregators, who have not yet obtained licences, will operate to prejudice and detriment of passengers who avail the services," a bench led by Chief Justice Dipankar Datta said.

The bench passed the directions while hearing a public interest litigation filed by advocate Savina Crasto highlighting the lack of an effective grievance redressal mechanism for customers using the Uber India App. Crasto cited an incident from November, 2020, when she booked an Uber ride in the city and was dropped off mid-way “at a shady dark place" and she found that the firm's app had no effective option to lodge complaints. During the previous hearings, the HC had found that the Maharashtra government was yet to approve specific guidelines to issue licences and regulate the operations of such cab aggregators. The HC said having a licence in accordance with Motor Vehicles Act was mandatory to regulate the operations of all such cab aggregators.