Court tells two drivers’ unions not to disrupt Ola-Uber services

THE COURT RESTRAINED THE UNIONS FROM STAGING A DHARNA WITHIN 500 METRES OF OLA, UBER OFFICES

The Delhi High Court on Monday restrained two taxi drivers’ unions from forcibly disrupting services of cabs run by Ola and Uber in the national capital region or stop drivers who are not willing to join the strike from plying.

Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw directed the two unions — the Sarvodaya Driver Association of Delhi (SDAD) and the Rajdhani Tourist Drivers’ Union — and anyone associated with them to restrain from blocking cabs of Ola and Uber on Tuesday.

The court also stopped the unions and their members or associates from removing or confiscating the mobile devices installed in the app-based cabs.

It restrained them from staging any dharna or causing any commotion or violence within 500 metres of Ola-Uber offices.

But the court has not put a stop to the strike that may affect commuting in Delhi.

The court passed the order after the two app-based cab companies said that efforts to settle the dispute with the two unions by mediation had failed.

Uber also claimed in court that a pamphlet was being circulated by the taxi unions calling for a strike on Tuesday.

The lawyer appearing for SDAD contended that the pamphlet was not being circulated by its members or associates, as there are other taxi unions.

The court, earlier, had sent the companies and the unions to resolve the matter through mediation. It had asked Delhi Police to ensure safety of drivers working for the companies.

In February, hundreds of drivers of Uber and Ola went on an indefinite strike to protest against “low fares” and “lack of basic amenities” from the appbased cab companies.