Hearing on fitting speed governors for taxis deferred

Mumbai: Taking into consideration that the Maharashtra government has extended the time limit by a month to install speed governors in taxis, the Bombay high court on Wednesday adjourned hearing beyond vacation on the petition filed by Mumbai Taximens’ Union.

The union has filed a petition, opposing the state government’s decision to direct Regional Transport Offices (RTO) to not give fitness certificates to taxis, which have not installed speed governors.

Due to the state government’s notification, the RTOs had refused to give fitness certificate to around 4,000 taxis, saying that speed governors were not installed. The high court will hear the petition on June 12.

The Taximens’ Union had moved the high court after the State Transport Commissioner’s office issued a circular to the RTOs last week directing them not to give clearances to any taxi, which have come to them for annual fitness test unless they are fitted with speed governors.

According to the state government’s notification, the taxis must install speed governors in their vehicles so that their speed does not exceed 80kmph.

A.L. Quadros, president of the union, told The Asian Age that the equipment are not available in the market and hence it would not be possible for taxis divers to install them within a short time. “The government realised that they have made a blunder by implementing such a decision without making proper arrangements for speed governors and hence it has extended time to install equipment by a month,” said Mr Quadros.

He added, “But even a month is not sufficient, and we want the high court to interfere in this matter.”

During the hearing, the vacation bench of Justice P.D. Naik and Justice M.S. Karnik questioned government’s decision.

The high court asked, “When city traffic rules do not permit vehicles to go beyond 50kmph then how come the state government wanted taxis to install speed governors that would allow a speed limit of 80kmph.”