SC to examine ‘vagueness' in auto and taxi drivers' uniforms
Supreme Court
on Friday agreed to examine alleged "vagueness" and "contradictions" in the Delhi Motor Vehicle (DMV) Rules about colour of the uniform for autorickshaw, taxi and transport vehicle drivers, which they claimed makes them sitting ducks for getting challaned by Delhi Police.
A bench of Justices P S Narasimha and R Mahadevan was initially reluctant to entertain the petition by 'Chaalak Shakti', an association of over 1,300 auto rickshaw and transport vehicle drivers, but their advocate Shruti Bisht persuaded it to examine the issue that is causing consternation to many of these drivers. The bench issued notice to the Delhi govt and sought its response in four weeks.
The petitioner association pointed out that the DMV Rules, 1993, prescribes that the driver of a public service vehicle, other than driver of State Transports Undertaking, while on duty, shall wear 'khaki' uniform with a name plate in Hindi affixed on it.
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However, the permit conditions, specified on May 23, 2013, by Delhi's regional transport authority - the Deputy Commissioner, Auto Rickshaw Unit, has prescribed that the driver shall wear uniform in 'grey colour' and the driver shall display 'Public Service Vehicle Badge' on his/her left side of the uniform, the petitioner said.
Appealing against a Delhi HC judgment refusing to entertain their grievance, the association said in fact, no uniform is necessary for the drivers of auto rickshaws and taxis and only they should be asked to wear badges to disclose their identity.
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"Apart from the fact that there is a lack of clarity on the colour of the uniform, whether it should be khaki or grey or white, there can also be confusion on the shade of grey or khaki which will also lead to the drivers being unnecessarily fined by the authorities and police," it said.
"The rules and the permit conditions are completely vague and manifestly arbitrary as it had no nexus with the purpose of identification of the driver. There is also lack of clarity regarding the type of garment - whether it should be a pant-shirt, safari suit or kurta-pyjama, the fabric that is to be used, details of trimmings and the requirements of accessories etc," it said.
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