Delhi High Court comes to commuters rescue, stops Ola, Uber drivers from haulting services

Delhiites may feel the relief from scorching heat as the Delhi High Court act as a saviour for them.

The Delhi High Court today restrained two taxi drivers unions from disrupting services of cabs run by Ola and Uber in the national capital region.

Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw passed a decree "permanently injuncting" the two unions and anyone associated with them from blocking cabs of Ola and Uber.

The court also stopped the unions and their members or associates from removing or confiscating the mobile devices installed in the app-based cabs.

It also restrained them from staging any dharna or causing any commotion or violence within 500 metres of the offices of Ola and Uber here.

The court passed the order after the two app-based cab companies said that efforts to settle the dispute with the two unions -- the Sarvodaya Driver Association of Delhi (SDAD) and the Rajdhani Tourist Drivers Union -- by mediation have failed.

Uber, represented by senior advocate Rajiv Nayar, also claimed that a pamphlet was being circulated by the taxi unions calling for a strike tomorrow.

The lawyer appearing for SDAD contended that the pamphlet was not being circulated by its members or associates as there are several other taxi unions operating in the national capital.

The court, earlier, had sent the companies and the unions to mediation to resolve the matter.

The court had also asked Delhi Police to ensure safety of the drivers working for the two companies.

It had also said that their vehicles should not be stopped or blocked from plying and should not be damaged.

The pleas were moved after hundreds of drivers of Uber and Ola went on an indefinite strike from February 10 in Delhi-NCR to protest against "low fares" and "lack" of basic amenities from the app-based cab companies.

The drivers of both the cab-aggregators have called for a strike as their 'demands' have not been met by the ride hailing companies.

Although the protest would be for just a day, but the shortage of cabs on a weekday was expected to impact the commuters.

The kaali-peeli taxi drivers have also announced to join the day-long protest.

1.5 lakh app-based taxis in Delhi-NCR have decided not to take out their vehicles on April 18. They have planned a protest march to chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence in Civil Lines from the Majnu Ka Tila Gurudwara, said a report published in the Hindustan Times.

In February also, drivers of both the companies went on a 13-day long strike, which ended after a meeting of Ola, Uber drivers with the Delhi government and company managements.

The Sarvodaya Drivers' Association of Delhi (SDAD) that was leading the strike claimed that Ola has agreed to its demands, however, the management of the company refused to comment on the assertion.

Thousands of drivers working with the two taxi aggregators had gone on indefinite strike against "low" fares and "lacking" basic amenities their employers provide them.
Tomorrow's strike has been called by the Sarvodaya Driver Association of Delhi, which led the February agitation.

"There has been no satisfactory response from either the companies or the Delhi government. Our demands have not been met, nor has there been any assurance given to us of any resolution. We have tried to get ourselves heard through peaceful means earlier, but it has not worked. On Tuesday, we will blockade the roads and will make sure that no taxi or auto operates on the roads," informed Sarvodaya Driver Association, Chairman, S P Soni to the Economic Times.

(with inputs from PTI)