Delhi HC stays hike in auto fares

New Delhi, February 7

A day before the Delhi Assembly elections, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government got a jolt from the Delhi High Court which stayed the operation of its decision of June last year to increase auto-rickshaw fares.

The court was hearing a petition filed by NGO, Aiding Hands Foundation, seeking that the notification revising the auto fares be set aside as it was issued without the approval of the competent authority, that is the Lieutenant Governor, and the hike would severely impact the people. A Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar said, “We hereby stay the operation of the June 12 notification issued by the Delhi government till the next date of hearing, that is, May 21.”

The Bench said it was of the prima facie opinion that the petitioner has a case in and the Transport Department of the Delhi government could not issue the notification as the LG was the competent authority.

“We are not concerned about the dispute between you two (Delhi government and LG). But if you cannot do anything, it means you cannot do.” — PTI