Maharashtra Gives Drivers One Year to Learn Marathi

Bombay High Court Disposes Petition After State Assures Drivers of One-Year Marathi Learning Period

The Maharashtra government has given auto-rickshaw, taxi and cab drivers one year to learn, read and speak Marathi before the language requirement for commercial vehicle permits is enforced. The assurance was given before the Bombay High Court, which then disposed of a petition challenging the rule.

The case was filed by four Uber drivers who questioned the requirement of having a “working knowledge” of Marathi to obtain taxi permits and driving badges.

State Confirms One-Year Marathi Deadline

The assurance was made before a division bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad. Additional Government Pleader Jyoti Chavan appeared for the State and confirmed the decision after receiving instructions from the Transport Minister.

The court took note of media reports regarding the government’s decision to provide drivers additional time to learn Marathi.

Chavan told the bench that the statement published in the newspaper would stand and requested that the petition be disposed of. The court accepted the State’s assurance and closed the matter.

Uber Drivers Raised Constitutional Concerns

The four petitioners, represented by advocate Vivek Shukla, had challenged the Marathi language requirement on constitutional grounds. They argued that the rule could affect their fundamental rights under Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution.

The drivers also questioned whether the Motor Vehicles Act gives the State authority to require knowledge of a specific language for obtaining a driving badge or commercial vehicle permit.

They had raised concerns that drivers who do not speak Marathi could face suspension of their badges or cancellation of permits, potentially affecting their income and livelihoods.

Maharashtra Had Earlier Started Marathi Checks

The State had previously fixed August 15 as the deadline for non-Marathi-speaking drivers to gain basic Marathi knowledge and had started arranging language classes.

On August 20, the Transport Department began statewide checks of commercial passenger vehicle drivers. Notices were reportedly issued to some drivers over inadequate Marathi knowledge, leading to protests from sections of the driver community.

The new one-year period gives drivers additional time to learn the language while allowing the government to continue its permit-related requirements.

Bombay High Court Clarifies PIL Status

During the hearing, the Bombay High Court also clarified that simply filing a case in the form of a Public Interest Litigation does not automatically make it a PIL.

The bench observed that when a person approaches the court mainly to seek relief concerning their own interests, the case cannot be treated as a Public Interest Litigation.

With the Maharashtra government’s assurance of a one-year learning period now placed on record, the court disposed of the petition.