Uber & Ola drivers asked to end strike by Delhi HC

New Delhi: Suggesting an amicable solution to the discord between cab drivers and app-based taxi aggregators, the Delhi high court asked the drivers of Ola and Uber and their unions, who are on strike in Delhi-NCR, to end their agitation.

“You cannot go on fighting, as you do with the government. You will have to resolve and end this agitation as it will not get you anything,” Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw said.

The court said that the cab drivers and their unions have a purely contractual relationship with the companies and if they do not desire to continue, they can always choose the more lucrative option, but cannot demand anything from the firms except by peaceful commercial negotiation. It said the drivers should create an atmosphere for a peaceful commercial dialogue with app-based cab aggregators.

The court’s observations came after the counsel for the two unions — Sarvodaya Driver Association of Delhi (SDAD) and Rajdhani Tourist Drivers’ Union, submitted that they have met the representatives of the two companies, but could not reach at any settlement.

“We are ready to settle the issue, but they are not,” the counsel said, adding that “we only get around Rs 60 per day from our cab firms so the rate per km should be increased.”

The unions’ contention was opposed by the counsel for Uber, who said, “We are not forcing them to ply taxis for us”. The court, however, said that the parties should resolve the issue through talks. It appointed a mediator to help resolve the issue amicably. The court has now fixed the matter for hearing on March 22.

It, meanwhile, also extended its interim order asking the Delhi police to ensure safety of the drivers having contract with the companies and wanting to ply. It had also said that their vehicles should not be stopped or blocked from plying and should never be damaged.

The directions for ensuring security were passed after Ola and Uber had informed the court that despite orders restraining the drivers’ unions from blocking or interfering with their services, there have been incidents of violence, including burning of a cab. The two unions denied responsibility for such incidents of violence.

The court was hearing the pleas of Uber and Ola seeking to restrain SDAD and Rajdhani and anyone working on their behalf from disrupting their services.