Bombay HC disposes PIL on Marathi rule for cab drivers after 1-year extension

The Bombay High Court dismissed a petition on Saturday, dismissing a case brought by four app-based cab drivers from Mumbai challenging the state government's notification requiring working knowledge of the Marathi language. This decision came after the state government informed the high court that the time given to rickshaw and taxi drivers to learn, read, and speak Marathi had been extended for one year.

The petitioners argued that the notification violated their fundamental rights and was in violation of the Motor Vehicles (MV) Act, 1988, a Central Act. The court noted that the impugned notification, with its "enormous scale," would deprive "lakhs of poor drivers of their means of livelihood and nearly 9.6 lakh permit and badge holders face notices, suspension or revocation of badges so far."

The bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra V Ghuge and Justice Gautam A Ankhad observed that the petitioners cannot move a PIL as they have a personal interest in seeking relief. Despite this, the government urged the court that all rickshaw and taxi drivers should master the language within one year. Consequently, the high court dismissed the PIL petition.