The Delhi High Court has held that auto-rickshaw and taxi operators at Anand Vihar Railway Station may continue to operate from the designated parking area earmarked pursuant to the railways policy, subject to payment of prescribed parking charges. The Court made it clear that the petitioner union’s members are bound by their undertaking not to encroach beyond the demarcated zone and must furnish the required declarations to the Railway authorities.
A petition was filed by an auto-taxi drivers’ union seeking protection from the displacement of the auto-taxi stand at Anand Vihar Railway Station Terminal, where the members had been operating since 2010. The petitioner further sought an appropriate direction to the respondents to equally treat all the auto-taxi stands of railway stations of similar category in Delhi, and accordingly charge equal stand fees from the auto and taxi drivers
Earlier interim orders dated August 3, 2022, protected the petitioner from eviction, subject to payment of the prescribed fee. They were also directed to submit the “Declaration-cum-Commercial Vehicle Owner Form,” and park only within the designated area to be earmarked by the Railways. Further, the order dated November 15, 2022, clarified that the benefit of the interim protection would extend only to those operators who were complying with these conditions.
In its final order, the court allowed the petitioner union’s members to continue operating from the designated parking area at Anand Vihar Railway Station, subject to payment of the prescribed parking charges.
The Court recorded the undertaking given on behalf of the petitioner that its members would not encroach beyond the area earmarked for autos and taxis and held them bound by the said undertaking.
Appearances
For Petitioner: Mr. Sumit Kumar and Mr. Harsh Kiran, Advocates
For Respondents: Mr. Rakesh Kumar, SPC-UOI with Mr. Rahul Kashyap, O.S., North Railway
