Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Saturday rapped the police for its inaction in the clash between Uber and autorickshaw drivers in Kochi. The court directed state police chief to file an affidavit when a contempt of court petition filed by online taxi drivers in Kochi city came up for hearing. The petition stated that the state police chief failed to comply with the order to provide protection to online taxi services like Uber and Ola.
The court had earlier held that online taxi service providers had the right to drop and pick up commuters from the airport, railway station and bus stand. The court had also asked state police chief to issue instructions to the police personnel in the state to maintain law and order at the venues. It observed, “It is reported that the order is more often than not honoured in its breach.” Online taxi services are disrupted by other taxi drivers and autorickshaw drivers. The general complaint is that the police is a mute witness. “Sufficient police is not deployed at the railway station and bus station and airport,” the court observed.
The court asked the state police chief to file an affidavit in the contempt of court case and posted the hearing of the case to January 3, 4 pm. Contempt petition was filed by C. Nawas an online taxi driver. The petitioner had earlier approached the court seeking a directive to permit him to conduct service in the premises of airport for pick-up and drop for online customers. He was manhandled at the airport premises by the prepaid taxi drivers on February 24. Immediately, the petitioner filed a complaint before the Airport Police station.
