Uber, Ola will have to fall in line as Karnataka govt fixes uniform fare for taxis
Bengaluru, Feb 4: City taxis and those operating through app-based aggregators like Uber and Ola will now have to follow the new fare structure announced by the Karnataka Transport Department.
With this new order released by the department on Saturday, fares for app-based cab aggregators as well as city taxis would be uniform and the revised fares would be applicable across the state with immediate effect. Prior to this, the fares were different for the two categories of taxis.
According to the new fare structure, cabs have been categorised into three classes based on the cost of the vehicle.
For vehicles whose purchase cost is Rs 10 lakh or below, the minimum fare has been fixed at Rs 100 for up to four km with a charge of Rs 24 for every additional km. For those costing between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 15 lakh, the minimum fare is Rs 115, and per km cost Rs 28. For those costing above 15 lakh, minimum fare is set at Rs 130 with Rs 32 charged for each additional kilometre.
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The order clearly states that no cab aggregators will be allowed to collect extra charges.
As for waiting charge, the first five minutes is free, after which passengers would be charged Re 1 for every minute.
In addition, app-based aggregators can collect five per cent GST as well as toll charges from the passengers, the new order states.
For cabs booked between 12 am and 6 am, operators can charge an extra 10 per cent, it stated.
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Supreme Court declares Tamil Nadu Governor’s withholding of assent to bills “illegal and arbitrary”
New Delhi: In a significant judgment, the Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi’s decision to withhold assent to 10 Bills passed by the State Assembly was “illegal” and “arbitrary”. The court also held that his move to subsequently reserve the Bills for Presidential consideration was not in line with constitutional principles and set aside the Governor’s actions.
The ruling, delivered by a bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan, marks a major victory for the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government. The court said the Governor had failed to act in "good faith" and had disregarded constitutional obligations.
“The action of the Governor to reserve the 10 Bills for the President is illegal and arbitrary. Thus, the action is set aside. All actions taken by the Governor thereto for the 10 Bills are set aside. These Bills shall be deemed to be cleared from the date it was re-presented to the Governor,” the bench stated in its order.
The court underlined that Article 200 of the Constitution does not grant unchecked discretion to the Governor. It laid down clear timelines for the exercise of powers under this provision, thereby reinforcing the principle of accountability in constitutional governance.
Timelines and Judicial Review
The judgment prescribed the following timeframes:
- A Governor must act within one month when withholding assent or reserving a Bill for the President’s consideration, with the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.
- When reserving a Bill without the Council's advice, the Governor has a maximum of three months.
- If a Bill is re-passed by the state legislature after reconsideration, the Governor must grant assent within one month.
The court clarified that any delay or deviation from these guidelines could invite judicial review, thereby making the Governor’s actions subject to legal scrutiny.
“This court is in no way undermining the powers of the Governor. All actions of the Governor must align with the principle of parliamentary democracy,” the bench noted.
Tense relations between Raj Bhavan and State Government
Governor RN Ravi, a former IPS officer and ex-CBI official, assumed office in Tamil Nadu in 2021. His tenure has been marred by frequent clashes with the MK Stalin-led government. The ruling DMK has repeatedly accused him of behaving like a BJP spokesperson and obstructing the state government’s legislative and administrative functioning.
These confrontations have been evident in the Assembly as well. In 2023, the Governor refused to deliver the customary address, criticising the draft as containing “misleading claims far from truth”. In 2022, he omitted portions of the speech that mentioned leaders like Dr BR Ambedkar, Periyar, and CN Annadurai, as well as references to the “Dravidian Model” and the law and order situation in the state.
Last year, the Governor also walked out of the Assembly during his address after objecting to the absence of the National Anthem at the beginning of the session. As per tradition, the Tamil Nadu Assembly plays the Tamil Thai Valthu at the start and the National Anthem at the end. Governor Ravi, however, insisted that the National Anthem be played at both times.
The state government has maintained that the Governor’s repeated withholding of assent and refusal to act on Bills passed by the legislature amounts to an attack on democratic values and federalism.
Tuesday’s Supreme Court verdict is expected to have far-reaching implications on Centre-state relations and the constitutional role of Governors across the country.
