Cites possibility of confrontation during G20 summit
VASCO
Mormugao Deputy Collector Bhagwant A. Karmali has prohibited operations of the prepaid taxi counter operated by Taj India Tours at Dabolim International Airport till May 31.
In his prohibitory order under Section 144 CrPC on May 10, Karmali stated that the Dabolim Airport Police Inspector had submitted a letter stating that the proprietor of Taj India Tours, a Prepaid taxi Counter based at Dabolim Airport (Counter 28), had reported that most driver/operators registered at Taj India Prepaid Counter were breaching the conditions of the agreement and were not engaging their vehicles at the counter and causing loss to their business.
It was reported that most of driver/operators were operating their business without collecting slips from the counter by non-payment of the freight charges.
Due to non-settlement of their pending bills, some taxi operators had heated arguments with the proprietor of Taj India Tours and committee members of Taj Taxi Association, Karmali stated.
The deputy collector indicated the there is a possibility of confrontation between both parties, which could result in a law and order issue, especially during the G20 summit.
"The Dabolim Airport Police Inspector submitted that presently the Taj India Tours counter based at Dabolim Airport is not issuing slips to local taxi vendors to carry their business and only vehicles of Taj India counter are issued slips. Efforts were made to convince the proprietor Ranbir Singh not to stop the activities of the local vendors from carrying business at the Taj India Counter. However, the same was not honoured by Singh," stated the deputy collector.
Considering the possibility of a law and order situation, a meeting was convened in the office of the Dy Collector/SDO & SDM, Mormugao on April 29, in the presence of the SDPO-Mormugao, Mamlatdar of Mormugao, Dabolim Police Inspector, AAI official and representatives of Taj India Tours and Taxi union.
During the meeting, it was suggested to the Taj India Tours manager to resolve the conflict in an amicable manner. The Taj India Tours manager spoke with their proprietor Ranbir Singh over telephone to work out amicable solution. However, Singh was not willing to sort out the issue and was adamant on his stand of not engaging local taxi operators at his counter, the dy collector stated.
The deputy collector, SDPO Mormugao, Mamlatdar and Dabolim Police Inspector then collectively decided that necessary instructions may be issued to Airport Authority of India to intervene in the matter and to temporarily close the prepaid taxi counter operated by Taj India Tours till the matter is resolved in view of preventing law and order situation that may likely to arise due to ongoing conflict between Taj India Tours and local taxi vendors in view of ongoing G20 Summit and SCO Foreign Ministers Council.
The deputy collector issued the order under Section 144 of CrPC to prohibit operations of prepaid taxi counter operated by Taj India Tours at Dabolim Airport with immediate effect and will remain in force till May 31.
The deputy collector stated that the proprietor of Taj India Tours, Ranbir Singh, if aggrieved by the order, could approach him with specific ground for modification or to rescind or to alter/exempt the order on May 17 at 11 am.
He added that any violation of the order would be punishable under Section 188 of IPC.
