New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday set aside the order of city government prohibiting OLA Cabs from plying in the capital until a license obtained from the transport department.
Justice Vibhu Bakhru also asked OLA Cab, a mobile and web-based taxi service provider, to approach the government with their contention over the blanket ban on it and two others after the Uber cabs rape incident.
"Since the petitioner (OLA) have not been afforded any opportunity of being heard, I deem it appropriate to set aside the impugned order and direct that the petition be considered as a representation by the appropriate authority," the order stated.
It added: "A final decision be taken within a period of 10 days from today (Tuesday) after affording the petitioner an opportunity of being heard."
On Dec 8, the Delhi government had prohibited OLA Cabs from plying in the city until license/permission was obtained from the transport department under the radio taxi scheme, 2006.
It had directed OLA Cabs to cease its services as mobile app or web-based services were not recognized.
The government notification had said that only six radio taxi operators - Meru, Mega, Chanson, Yo, Air and Easy - are authorised to run radio taxi services in Delhi.
OLA Cabs contended that in some cases, traffic police and Delhi Police have been taking coercive action against the vehicles using OLA software.
During the hearing, senior advocates Sandeep Sethi and Khalid Arshad contended that "challans are being issued to the drivers operating OLA cabs and additionally the vehicles are being impounded".
"OLA is used in around 25 cities across India. And have 20 lakh users. They have been operating in Delhi since 2012," said the plea.
OLA contended that unlike radio taxis, they do not own the cabs which are provided to public. It further said that a detailed audit of the vehicles is organized by it periodically.
All vehicles have GPS installed in them, which allow all booked rides to be traced.
The government banorder came few days after a taxi driver contracted to international online cab firm Uber was detained on charges of raping a female passenger.
