New Delhi, Nov 14 (PTI) The Delhi High Court todayrefused to interfere with the Delhi Metro's decision toincrease mass rapid transit fare by 100 per cent.
A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice CHari Shankar also observed that this was a policy decision andthe court would not like to step into it.
"We are not inclined to interfere with it (the DelhiMetro Rail Corporation) decision. Neither do we have anyjurisdiction to go into it," the bench said, adding that thepetitioner had not even approached the authorities with hisrepresentation.
Amer Vaid, a second year law student, had moved the courtchallenging the recommendations of the fourth fare fixationcommittee (FFC) of the Delhi Metro to increase the fare by100 per cent.
Seeking quashing of the recommendations, which wereffected in two phases (May and October), the plea said theincreased fares were in contravention to the previous norms ofthe FFC, wherein, the distance zone was reduced from 15 to sixkm, leaving citizens of the national capital region in a"detrimental situation".
The plea said the increase in fares inordinately led to asituation where passengers travelling distances differing bynine km were made to pay the same amount which was unfair andunjust.
The bench, however, was of the view that why couldn't theauthorities charge their fare.
It directed the law student to make a representation tothe Delhi Metro which would take a view and communicate to himimmediately.
The revised fare structure was: up to 2 km - Rs 10, 2 to5 km — Rs 20, 5 to 12 km — Rs 30, 12 to 21 km — Rs 40, 21 to32 km — Rs 50 and for journeys beyond 32 km — Rs60.
Smart card users, who, according to the DMRC's estimates,happen to be 70 per cent of the metro's total ridership, wouldcontinue to get 10 per cent discount on each ride.
They would get an additional discount of 10 per centwhile travelling during off-peak hours, that was from thebeginning of services till 8 am, between 12 pm and 5 pm andfrom 9 pm to the end of the services. PTI PPS SKV HMPAAR.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.