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The Madras High Court recently, while considering a writ petition for the implementation of the Government order dated August 25, 2013, has mandated the installation of electronic meters in all auto-rickshaws.

The bench of Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and Justice S Bharatha Chakravarthy passed the order considering the submissions made by Advocate General R. Shanmugasundaram that action had been taken to install electronic meters in Auto-rickshaws but they are without printers.

AG Shanmugasundaram also apprised the court that checks were being conducted and an auto-rickshaw caught not using the meter was penalized.

He further said, “looking into the cost of the electronic meter with printers, it is not viable for the State for installing the same in the auto-rickshaws”. So he suggested that efforts should be made to keep a check on the auto-rickshaw holders, whether they are operating it with meters or not.

It was further stated that the State is in the process of installing GPS or making consolidated equipment that may have meters with GPS and may be made available through the mobile application.

However, S. V Ramamurthy, the party in person, submitted that even if the electronic meters have been installed on the auto-rickshaws, they do not operate the same, rather, they demand charges as per their sweet-will, thus, compliance has not been made strictly.

Therefore, Court directed that all auto-rickshaws be installed with electronic meters which should be operated while transporting passengers.

“Periodically, checks should be conducted by the Police and Transport Departments to find out whether the auto-rickshaw is being operated with meters or not, and if any complaint is made, then immediate action should be taken on it”, Court added.

Further, with respect to the installation of printers, Court considered the submission of the AG and stated that the same was an expensive affair. However, Court also directed the State to install the same and generate bills as and when these printers are available.

Court also directed that the State may revise the fares/rates of the auto-rickshaws, periodically, looking to the fluctuation of the rates of petrol/diesel.

Court concluded that this system would take into account the fluctuation of the rates of petrol/diesel without evolving the long-drawn process, but by using the software in such a manner where the rates may be revised, thereby, upgrading the system/mechanism automatically on the meters.

Case Title: S. V. Ramamurthy v. The Secretary, Government of TN