Team Herald
PANJIM: In a major blow to government’s attempt to delay enforcement of digital fare meters in tourist taxis, the High Court of Bombay at Goa slapped a contempt notice on the State for not implementing its order to commence the project from August 1.
The division bench of Justice Mahesh Sonak and Nutan Sardessai also directed the Chief Secretary to file an affidavit explaining reasons for the delay as well as why action on the contempt petition filed by the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) should not be taken.
The High Court on July 15 had directed the State to commence fitting of meters in tourist taxis from August 1. The order was based on the submission from the Transport Department to start 15 days trial from July 16 followed by implementation of digital taxi meters on August 1. The court’s order also included completing the exercise within six months and to stall issuing fresh permits until the meters are fitted.
With no sign of implementation, the TTAG filed a contempt petition before the division bench, the matter of which was extensively heard on Tuesday. During the hearing, the bench pulled up the government for repeated postponements after the Advocate General Devidas Pangam submitted that government is mooting re-tendering of the project. The AG also sought from the court four months time to begin installation of the integrated digital meter units in tourist taxis.
Earlier, on August 14, the Transport Department had sought two months extension, which lapsed on October 1.
The petitioner represented by Advocate Nitin Sardesai argued that postponements by the government are deliberate.
Justice Sonak sought to know from the government reasons for not making any progress to implement the order even more than two months after the order. “This is a serious matter,” the bench observed denying granting another long extension. “Tell us within how much time the meters will be fitted in taxis? One month should be reasonable,” it noted. To this the AG assured the division bench to implement the order however expressing reluctance on the month long time frame. “We are doing it but the time limit is not feasible,” Pangam said.
The government tried to explain the court on the proposed re-tendering of the project citing one of the reasons that the tender was initially issued by the Corporation and not the Transport Department. Certain mistakes were also pointed out in the tender. To this, the bench opined that the officer responsible should ‘face the music’ for wasting time and money.
In the order, the bench observed that prima facie there is contempt of the court’s order dated July 5. “Prima facie, we are satisfied that the respondent (Transport Director Rajan Satardekar) is in contempt of this Court. There are clear directions in our order dated July 5, 2019 which orders were in fact made on the basis of the statement made on behalf of the respondent in the manner of implementation of Automated Tracking Device with integrated emergency system and Fare Meter in passenger taxis,” it observed.
The bench issued notice on the Transport Director as well seeking reply as to why action under Court of Contempt Act should not be initiated against him. The High Court Registry should ensure the notices are served expeditiously and are returnable on October 22 which is when the State is also asked to submit steps to implement the project.
