Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Friday issued notices to the state on a plea filed by the drivers of commercial vehicles such as taxis, autorickshaws and buses alleging that the online taxi services were operating without proper norms. The petitioners, Kerala Samsthana Motor Thozhilali Union, argued that Ola and Uber did not have mandatory licences from the government. They alleged that the business conducted by Uber and Ola had badly affected the livelihood of the union members.
Ola and Uber do not have licence from the transport department as required under section 93 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Section 93 stipulates that no person can engage as an agent or a canvasser in the sale of tickets for travel by public service vehicle or in soliciting customers for such vehicles without obtaining a licence from the authority prescribed by the state government, they said.
The transport authorities in the state are duty-bound to ensure that the online taxi operators are not conducting business without a licence as required by law. Similarly, they are also required to verify whether the vehicles used by the online taxi operators have valid permit and licence. Though a representation was filed before the transport department demanding such verification, no action has been taken, the petition said.
