The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Chandigarh State Transport Authority not to take any coercive measures against Uber India Systems Private Limited.
Uber India, as the petitioner, approached the High Court in response to an order from the STA. Despite acknowledging the petitioner’s pending license application, the STA’s order paradoxically demanded an immediate cessation of operations in the UT, conveyed via email on December 1.
Senior Advocate DS Patwalia, representing the petitioner, argued against a notification dated November 17, 2022. This notification, issued by the UT Administrator, aimed to enforce “Chandigarh guidelines” on license issuance. Patwalia contended that the November 17 notification didn’t align with the proper process outlined in the November 27, 2020, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways guidelines.
Patwalia emphasized that the notification, issued by the Secretary of Transport in UT, bypassed the necessary due process stipulated under the Motor Vehicles Act, raising concerns about its legality.
UT’s Additional Standing Counsel, Sumeet Jain, informed the Bench that no action had been initiated so far regarding this matter.
Consequently, the Bench, presided over by Acting Chief Justice Ritu Bahri and Justice Nidhi Gupta, decided to list the case for further hearing on December 22. They also issued an order, instructing that no coercive action should be taken against Uber India Systems Private Limited until the date of the next hearing.
