Four app-based cab drivers have filed a petition in the Bombay High Court challenging the Maharashtra government’s August 12 notification that mandates working knowledge of Marathi for auto-rickshaw, taxi, and app-based cab drivers. The petition, submitted through advocate Vivek Shukla, seeks urgent directions and an immediate stay on the language rule, citing risks to the livelihoods of lakhs of drivers, according to livemint.com.
The petition is scheduled to be mentioned before the Chief Justice on August 26. The drivers argue that the compulsory Marathi language requirement could adversely affect their ability to work and earn a living in Mumbai. The notification issued by the Maharashtra government aims to enforce the rule across the city’s auto and cab services, but the petitioners contend it threatens the employment of many who do not speak Marathi fluently, as reported by livemint.com.
The dispute highlights ongoing tensions around language policies in Maharashtra, where Marathi is the official state language. The government’s move to mandate Marathi proficiency for drivers is intended to preserve local culture and ensure better communication. However, critics say it could disproportionately impact migrant drivers and app-based cab operators, who form a significant part of Mumbai’s transport sector. This case adds to previous legal challenges related to language rules in the state, according to livemint.com.
The Bombay High Court will address the petition on August 26, when the petitioners will seek an immediate stay on the government’s notification. The ruling could have significant implications for thousands of drivers operating in Mumbai and the enforcement of language policies in the state, as detailed by livemint.com.