A police official speaks to a taxi driver outside Dadar railway station, after the Maharashtra government began enforcing a requirement that auto rickshaw and taxi drivers demonstrate a working knowledge of Marathi, making language proficiency a condition for continuing work, in Mumbai. File
| Photo Credit: PTI
The Bombay High Court on Saturday (August 29, 2026) disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) after the Maharashtra government informed the court that auto-rickshaw, taxi and cab drivers in the State would be given one year to acquire a working knowledge of Marathi.
A division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad was hearing the PIL filed by four Uber drivers challenging the government’s requirement that drivers possess a working knowledge of Marathi to obtain permits.
The Bench took note of media reports that the State had agreed to give drivers one year to learn the language. The court also noted that the petitioners had met the Chief Minister and that reports suggested that the issue concerning auto-rickshaw drivers had been resolved.
During the initial hearing, additional government pleader Jyoti Chavan informed the court that she would verify whether a formal policy decision had been taken. The court directed her to check with the Transport Department and confirm the position.
When the matter was taken up again, Ms. Chavan informed the court that the Transport Minister had confirmed the one-year period. The court recorded the statement and disposed of the PIL.
Published – August 29, 2026 04:19 pm IST
