New Delhi, Dec 24 (IANS): The Delhi High Court Wednesday sought a response from the city's transport department on a petition against the plying of diesel inter-state taxis, which are not permitted to ply as radio taxis in the capital.

A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice P.S. Teji asked the government counsel to take instruction on the issue and file a reply.

Standing counsel Zubeda Begum told the court that taxis which have permit to ply between states and having a contract carriage permit were not plying in Delhi.

The court sought the government's response by March 4.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) that said the inter-state taxis do not have permission to run as city or radio taxis, but despite that they were plying on Delhi roads.

It said there was no scheme or mechanism to regulate these inter-state taxis.

"These taxis are being plied as city taxis on Delhi roads and are associated with app-based companies. The app-based companies which run as city/radio taxis in Delhi have no control over the vehicles which are owned by different individuals," the plea said.

It said the Delhi government has been flouting the Supreme Court's 2001 order where it had directed that buses, autorickshaws etc. shall run on CNG so that air pollution can be brought under control.

These diesel-fuelled vehicles have manipulated the system and were using such vehicles as city or radio taxis, it contended.

"They don't have installed GPS devices in most of the vehicles, thereby violating the Radio Taxi Scheme of 2006, where the government had issued terms and conditions for radio taxis, and putting the safety of passengers at risk," the plea said.

The petitioner also cited the recent rape case, where a driver contracted with the Uber taxi company allegedly raped a 26-year-old woman.