Supreme Court ultimatum to Tamil Nadu: Fix auto fares by July 6

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Supreme Court ultimatum to Tamil Nadu: Fix auto fares by July 6

The Supreme Court has given the Tamil Nadu government time till July 6 to fix a fare structure for autorickshaws, implement it and file a compliance report before the court.

The 'final' opportunity, extending the ultimatum by two more months, was given by a bench comprising Justice R M Lodha and Justice Kurian Joseph, on a petition filed by Chennai-based advocate S V Ramamurthy, on May 6.

 

 While acceding to the pleas of Tamil Nadu's additional advocate general for more time to frame a fare structure and implement it, the bench had said: "In the interest of justice, we are inclined to grant further time of two months to Tamil Nadu to finally consider fixing of new fares for autorickshaws." Holding the chief secretary accountable for the compliance of the order, the judges further said: "The chief secretary of Tamil Nadu shall file an affidavit that the order dated December 3, 2012 has been complied with." However, the order was not implemented till May 6, when the present order was passed.

"I produced the front page of The Times of India dated September 4 (the day TOI launched its campaign to bring back the auto rickshaw meter) to highlight the present day position of autorickshaw fares in Tamil Nadu," Ramamurthy said.