Uber tells Bombay High Court 3.5 lakh cab drivers use their app a week in Maharashtra, earn ₹7k-₹15k per week

Taxi aggregator Uber India has told the Bombay High Court that around 3.5 lakh cab drivers use their app a week in the State of Maharashtra and each of them earn ₹7,500 to ₹15,000 a week through rides booked through the app..In its 332-page affidavit, the company also claimed that it has taken all steps to protects its customers and drivers and to provide safe rides, and make the mobile application user-friendly.Uber’s affidavit came in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by one Savina Crasto against the transport aggregator, alleging lack of a consumer grievance-redressal mechanism to resolve complaints against Uber.Crasto claimed through the PIL that she faced several hurdles when booking a cab-ride on Uber, with regard to ride experience and subsequent payment of money, and alleged that Uber’s mobile application does not allow to satisfactorily place on record the reasons for unpleasant rides..In response, Uber India has claimed that it has taken “all steps possible to ensure the safety of its riders as well as drivers and provide a detailed mechanism to make its mobile-based application user and customer friendly as also provide safe rides and effective services.”The affidavit highlighted that approximately 4,20,000 riders use their services on a weekly basis in Maharashtra since the launch of the app in 2014.“Approximately 3,50,000 cab drivers are online every week on the Uber app in the State whose weekly earnings are approximately ₹7,000 to ₹15,000,” the affidavit stated..Uber pointed out that during the COVID pandemic, the Maharashtra government had imposed various restrictions on aggregators due to the lockdown, and the company had taken all steps to implement those orders to help the State mitigate the impact of COVID.Uber claimed to have:Offered free rides to frontline health workers of Maharashtra government and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation;Undertaken vaccination drives to vaccinate its drivers;Facilitated 8000 free online medical consultations for drivers and their families;Facilitated micro loans for the drivers;Given grants to its drivers during the state-wise lockdown between April 2020 to June 2020;Arranged for and distributed approximately 52,346 PPE kits to drivers..Regarding compliance with the statutory regime put in place by the Central government in 2020 by way of amendment to Motor Vehicles Act thereby mandating obtaining license for carrying on business, Uber contended in its affidavit that the Maharashtra government has not issued any rules under the Motor Vehicles Act indicating the manner for applying for licenses, and there was no clarity on the conditions for granting of licenses.It pointed out that other aggregators providing services similar to Uber have also not obtained any such license..Meanwhile, the Deputy Transport Commissioner of the Maharashtra government also filed an affidavit in the matter stating that the term 'aggregator' was introduced only in 2019. So prior to that Uber India was not required to obtain any license except under the Maharashtra City Taxi Rules, which stood suspended, it was submitted.The affidavit stated that while the State guidelines for aggregators were in the process of being finalised, the Central guidelines were in any case applicable to all aggregators including Uber.In any case, Uber India had never made any application to seek a license as aggregator as per the Motor Vehicles Act, the State's affidavit pointed out.It further highlighted that if Uber India did apply for license, then the State will consider the same in light of the guidelines notified by the Centre.