Pune: The District Court has directed Pune Railway Division not to forcefully remove cabs of the taxi association from the parking area of Pune Railway Station.
Adhoc Judge SP Pingale, in an order dated October 3, asked the Railways not to take coercive steps against the ‘Taxi Malak Sanghatana’ (taxi union) from parking their 7 taxis/cabs in lane no.2 at the main gate of Pune Railway Station.
The taxi owners’ union filed a civil suit for declaration and injunction against Pune Railway Division of Central Railway for throwing them out. Advocate Arshad Nehal represented the taxi union and Advocate SD Uplenchwar argued on behalf of the Central Railway.
The court stated, “After considering the submissions of both sides and going through the record and proceedings, it appears that by the letter dated January 3, 2011, written by Divisional Commercial Manager addressed to the appellant union in response to the letter of the appellant Union on November 22, 2010 that the Union was allowed and permitted to park 7 taxis for the passengers in Lane number 2 with condition to display board in the concern lane vicinity in Marathi, Hindi and English language in style and manner ‘parking for 7 taxis’. It was also one of the conditions imposed by the Railway administration that the appellant union should not use VIP lane for dropping the passengers and lastly, the appellant Union should not park their vehicles/ taxis/ cabs in such a manner so as to see that there should not be an obstruction to the incoming and outgoing vehicles on & through the lane.”
The court went through the letter of June 5, 2017, whereby a threat was given by the railways to the union about the cancellation of their licence, which was accorded by the letter of January 3, 2011. “After having gone through the said letter, it appears that as per the clause No.19/5 of the Zonal Parking Policy, the railway administration decided that area for parking 10 call taxis/radio taxis should be marked as a passenger amenity. It is also stated in the said letter that the Railway Board has instructed for making provisions of cab aggregators within the stipulated time. Therefore, appellant Union called upon to vacate the area which was allotted to it for parking 7 taxis in front of Pune railway station. It is also informed that the earlier/previous letter issued by the office of Divisional Commercial Manager of Railway regarding parking of taxi stand cancelled.” Advocate Nehal stated that the union has been providing services to passengers from the ‘Tanga era’. However, the railway authorities are willing to facilitate parking space for a private cab aggregator. This decision will hamper the parking space for the union and in turn, the families of taxi drivers will suffer.
