Revise auto-rickshaw fares periodically given fluctuation of petrol and diesel prices: Madras High Court to State

The Madras High Court recently directed the State government to periodically revise the fares of auto-rickshaws considering the fluctuation in rates of petrol and diesel [SV Ramamurthy v The Secretary]..A Bench of Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy also directed,“The respondent may come with the system where fluctuation of the rates of petrol/diesel may be taken into account for revision of fare/rates of the auto-rickshaws, without evolving the long drawn process, but by using the software in such a manner where the rates may be revised, thereby, upgraded the system/mechanism automatically on the meters.".The Court further directed that all auto-rickshaws must be equipped with electronic meters, and that the authorities must conduct periodic checks to find out whether auto-rickshaws are being operated with meters or not. If any complaint is made in this regard, immediate action should be taken on it, the Bench further said..This directions came in a plea seeking the implementation of a Government Order (GO) with regard to installation of meters in auto-rickshaws to avoid cheating in terms of fare..Advocate General R Shanmugasundaram informed the Court that in compliance with the GO, action had been taken and all auto-rickshaws were with electronic meters. He said that the vehicles did not have printers, as installation of the same was not viable for the State in terms of cost.It was also submitted that the State was in the process of installing Global Positioning System (GPS) through a mobile application in auto-rickshaws..However, the petitioner contested these claims, stating that though electronic meters were installed, they were not being operated and charges were demanded as per their “sweet-will”.Nevertheless, the Court decided to dispose of the writ petition on the State’s submission that almost all auto-rickshaws had electronic meters..The Bench also said that the State shall take further steps for the installation of GPS, since even passengers would benefit from this.So far as the printers were concerned, the State was asked to make them available as and when possible..The petitioner appeared in person, while the State was represented by the Advocate General along with State Government Pleader Muthukumar, Government Advocate KMD Muhilan and Advocate AG Shakeenaa..[Read Order]