Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir
In a recent verdict, the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh rebuked the Union Territory administration for its failure to control the inflated fares charged by taxi operators to tourists in Pahalgam. The Court emphasized the necessity of strict regulations to prevent such exploitation and suggested implementing prepaid taxi systems.
Justice Sanjeev Kumar expressed disbelief that, despite being registered with the Department of Tourism, taxi operators in the Kashmir valley were still able to overcharge tourists. He stated, “It is unthinkable in this digital age that these operators continue to fleece tourists with exorbitant rates.”
The Court insisted that tourism authorities should take immediate action to regulate taxi fares. It proposed that the authorities should have the power to cancel the registration of any taxi operator found guilty of overcharging, after providing an opportunity for the operator to be heard.
This criticism arose during the hearing of a petition filed by the tourist taxi stands of Pahalgam against the Director of Tourism, Kashmir. The petition contested the decision to permit additional taxis from other recognized stands to operate in the area, arguing that this would cause traffic chaos in popular spots like Aru Valley, Betaab Valley, and Chandanwari.
The petitioners highlighted that their registration was limited to only 600 vehicles, and allowing more taxis would exacerbate traffic issues. The Court noted that the authorities had decided to allow more taxis in response to complaints about high fares from tourists.
The Court observed, “To streamline taxi operations and ensure healthy competition, a Committee led by the Director of Tourism made the impugned decision during a meeting on April 13, 2024.” However, it stressed that taxis should only operate in areas for which they have valid permits.
Furthermore, the Pahalgam Development Authority informed the Court that only registered taxis would be allowed to travel from Pahalgam to Aru and Chandanwari. The Court ordered that no unpermitted taxis should be allowed to ply these routes.
The judgment concluded by directing the authorities to develop a comprehensive policy that balances the livelihoods of taxi operators with the need to prevent traffic chaos in Pahalgam and its surrounding tourist destinations.
_Tourist_Taxi_Stand_No_1_Pahalgam___Anr_vs_Union_Territory_of_J_K_and_Others
