Mumbai, March 1 (PTI): Bombay High Court today termed "illegal" a circular of the BJP-led Maharashtra government that made knowledge of Marathi a condition for new auto-rickshaw permits. "If an applicant for the permit does not fulfil the condition of having knowledge of Marathi, his application cannot be disqualified," the court ruled, adding the government had the power to make rules, not to introduce them through a circular. The rule was effective from November 2016. Mira Bhayander Auto Rickshaw Chalak Sangathan, a union from a Mumbai suburb that filed the plea, contended that imposing the condition for issuing "badges" to auto drivers was "still understandable" but not for permits as owners often rented out their vehicles to others.

Source: The Telegraph March 01, 2017 21:44 UTC