Plea of cab drivers disposed as state govt grants 1-year time to learn Marathi
The Bombay High Court disposed of a petition challenging a Marathi language requirement for taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers after the state government granted a one-year extension. The drivers had argued the rule violated their fundamental rights.
Why it matters
This case highlights the tension between regional language policies and the constitutional rights of migrant workers in India.
MUMBAI: The Bombay high court has disposed of a petition challenging Maharashtra's Marathi language requirement for auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers after the state government extended the deadline for learning the language by a year.The petition was filed by four cab drivers who had sought a stay on the implementation of the rule, arguing that it violated their fundamental rights.Additional government pleader Jyoti Chavan told a bench comprising acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad on Saturday that the government had decided to give drivers an additional year to acquire working knowledge of Marathi.The court accepted the government's statement and disposed of the petition.Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the extension after a delegation of drivers met him on Thursday.
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