PANJIM: Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) and Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industries (GCCI) have slammed the State government for illegally and unconstitutionally keeping in abeyance the implementation of installing digital meters on tourist taxis.
In a rejoinder filed before the High Court of Bombay at Goa on Monday, the associations submitted that non-implementation and keeping in abeyance the amended Rule 140 are mere excuses.
“The non-implementation and keeping in abeyance of the amended Rule 140 are mere excuses… The impugned notifications are unreasonable, illegal, bad in law, unconstitutional, perverse, without application of mind and in direct contravention of well established constitutional principles as well as the provisions of the Act,” the rejoinder states.
TTAG, GCCI and other stakeholders had moved the court last month seeking directions to the government to implement its decision to make digital
meters compulsory for tourist taxis. The Transport Department, in its reply last week submitted that its intention to keep in abeyance the implementation was due to the ongoing code of conduct. The reply also highlighted the sensitivity of the issue as it would affect a large number of self employed persons, many of whom are owners of a single taxi.
In June 2015, the Transport Department had issued a notification making it mandatory to install meters on 15,000-odd tourist taxis in Goa. It had also incorporated a provision of granting 50 percent subsidy or Rs 5,000 towards its purchase. The implementation was, however, kept on hold owing to objections raised by some taxi operators.
The petitioners have reiterated that keeping the amended Rule 140 in abeyance was illegal, without authority of the law and that it will also perpetuate the damage already caused to industries in Goa by delayed enforcement. The bench has adjourned the matter for further hearing on March 15.
