The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Delhi government and Delhi Police on a plea seeking directions to ensure that auto rickshaws in the national capital follow government-prescribed fares and run by meters [Anil Nimesh v Govt of NCT of Delhi & Other]. 

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela directed the government to file its reply in four weeks.

The reply has to give details of how many challans were issued to auto drivers for refusing to charge meter fares. 

The Bench also asked the authorities whether any mechanism was in place to monitor arbitrary fares charged by rickshaw drivers and whether any grievance redressal mechanism exists for passengers to raise complaints against drivers who deny rides because the passenger insisted on meter fare. 

The Court passed the direction while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by advocate Anil Nimesh alleging widespread violation of government-prescribed auto rickshaw fares across the capital and a failure by authorities to enforce existing regulations.

He sought directions to ensure strict implementation of the auto rickshaw fare structure notified by the Delhi government in January 2023. The notification mandates a base fare of ₹30 for the first 1.5 kilometres and ₹11 per kilometre thereafter, along with regulated night and waiting charges.

According to the petitioner, auto-rickshaw drivers have increasingly refused to operate by meters since the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, instead charging passengers arbitrary fares.

The petition also flagged the role of app-based transport platforms such as Uber and Rapido, alleging that higher fares charged through these apps have encouraged non-app drivers to demand inflated prices. 

Therefore, the petitioner said that directions should be issued to authorities to enforce fare rules, inspect meters, issue public notices warning drivers of penalties and take strict action against repeat offenders.