Auto unions to challenge e-meter notification

Even as auto unions led by Sharad Rao and Thampy Kurian are gearing up to file a writ petition in the Bombay high court, the state transport department issued a notification that electronic meters should be effective for all autorickshaws in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region from April 1, 2012. Prajakta Chavan reports.

Even as auto unions led by Sharad Rao and Thampy Kurian are gearing up to file a writ petition in the Bombay high court, the state transport department issued a notification that electronic meters should be effective for all autorickshaws in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region from April 1, 2012.

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The notification states that the existing 1.05 lakh autos should compulsorily install digital meters from April 1, while for new autos it will be effective from March 1. “The government notification has been issued and we may receive it in a day or two. Even if the notification is delivered by the end of the month, we will start the implementation from March 1 for new autos and April 1 for the existing ones,” said an RTO official requesting anonymity, as he is not allowed to speak to the media.

Sharad Rao’s Mumbai Autorickshaw Men’s Union has said it will be filing a writ petition in a couple of days, “We are preparing the writ petition which will be filed within two days. Several aspects will be mentioned in the writ petition about how this implementation is haphazard and will not benefit either commuters or drivers,” said Shashank Rao from the Mumbai Autorickshaw Men’s Union.

“There are Supreme Court directives that e-meters should be tamper proof, but we have proved that they can be tampered with. If e-meters are completely tamper-proof, manufacturers should give a bank guarantee and in case e-meters are tampered with, the fine should be deducted from that bank guarantee,” Kurian said.