New Delhi: The Delhi high court on Monday permanently restrained two taxi drivers’ unions from interfering in services offered by taxi aggregators Ola and Uber in the national capital region.

Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw passed the order after being informed of an unsuccessful attempt at mediation with the two unions—Sarvodaya Driver Association and Rajdhani Tourist Driver Union—that were alleged to have disrupted services of taxi aggregators who did not wish to participate in a February strike for higher fares and other incentives.

The court also reiterated its earlier order restraining the drivers unions from staging any protest within 500 metres from the office premises of Ola and Uber in the future.

The court was hearing pleas by ride hailing companies ANI Technologies Pvt. Ltd, which runs Ola, and Uber who had alleged that the unions were disrupting services of taxi drivers who did not join the February strike.

Ola claimed that striking drivers had blocked their cabs, pulled out drivers and removed the mobile devices installed in them.

In February, in an interim order, the court granted relief to Uber and Ola by restraining anyone, including the two drivers’ unions, from interfering in the operations or hampering the services of the taxi aggregators.

The court also restrained the unions or anyone acting on their behalf from removing or confiscating the mobile devices installed in the cabs run by Ola and Uber.

On 17 February, in an attempt to resolve the taxi strike, the court ordered an authorised signatory from Ola and Uber to hold a meeting with Sarvodaya Driver Association.

Several unions and thousands of drivers were on strike since 10 February in the National Capital Region against app-based aggregators, demanding an increase in fares from the existing Rs6 per km and also discontinuation of the 25% commission app-based aggregators charge on every booking. The unions also demanded an immediate end to ride sharing services and a hike in per kilometre rates.

A second strike by taxi unions and drivers of taxi aggregators including Uber and Ola is expected on Monday in the capital in a bid to press demands such as low fares and long working hours.

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