Bar Council of India Removes 107 Fake Advocates from Delhi Roll to Uphold Legal Integrity

Image
Bar Council of India Removes 107 Fake Advocates from  Delhi Roll to Uphold Legal Integrity The Bar Council of India (BCI) has taken decisive action in a sweeping initiative aimed at maintaining the integrity of the legal profession by removing 107 fake advocates  from the Roll of Advocates in Delhi  between 2019 and October 2024. This step comes as part of the BCI's rigorous verification process to ensure that only qualified, genuinely practising advocates remain in the profession, ultimately upholding public trust in the legal system. Strengthened Verification Framework Under Rule 32 This effort falls under Rule 32 of the Bar Council of India Certificate and Place of Practice (Verification) Rules, 2015 . The BCI  amended Rule 32 on June 23, 2023 , which empowered the BCI to verify, identify, and systematically remove unqualified and fake advocates from the Roll. The rule amendment has made the process of weeding out non-compliant individuals significantly more efficient. Accordi
Post a Comment

CCPA Directs Ola to Provide Consumer Choice for Refunds and Ensures Billing Transparency

CCPA Directs Ola to Provide Consumer Choice for Refunds and Ensures Billing Transparency


The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued a directive to Ola, the ride-hailing giant, to revamp its refund policy and ensure transparency in its billing for auto rides. This regulatory action is aimed at protecting consumer rights and enhancing service transparency.


Consumer-Friendly Refund Mechanism  

Under the CCPA’s directive, Ola is now required to offer customers the option to select their preferred refund method. Previously, refunds were provided solely in the form of coupons for future rides, which the CCPA found to be a potential infringement on consumer rights. The new system allows consumers to choose between refunds to their bank accounts or coupon codes, empowering them with more control over their refunds.


CCPA's Intervention on Refund Policy  

This intervention by the CCPA, led by Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare, followed complaints that Ola's "no-questions-asked" refund policy did not offer a transparent choice to consumers. By only offering coupon-based refunds, Ola was seen to be incentivizing additional ride bookings rather than providing a direct monetary refund. The CCPA emphasized that consumers should not be pushed into reusing a service but should instead be given a fair choice.


Unfair Trade Practices in Auto Ride Invoices  

The CCPA also highlighted Ola’s practice of not providing invoices for auto rides, deeming it an "unfair trade practice" under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. Consumers who attempted to access invoices for auto rides on Ola's app were met with a message stating that invoices would not be provided due to changes in the service’s terms and conditions. The Consumer Protection Act mandates that a bill, receipt, or cash memo must be issued for any services rendered, including rides. Ola was ordered to rectify this practice immediately.


Platform Enhancements for Transparency  

In response to the CCPA’s directives, Ola has introduced several consumer-friendly updates to its platform. These changes include:


- Displaying the grievance officer and nodal officer details, including names, phone numbers, and email addresses, prominently on the Ola app and website.

- Providing clarity on ride cancellation policies by showing the permitted time for cancellations and the applicable cancellation fees during the booking process.

- Updating driver acceptance screens to display both pickup and drop-off locations, reducing confusion for drivers.

- Displaying detailed fare information, including base fare, per-kilometer charges, and pre-wait charges, ensuring transparency before a ride is booked.


Complaints from Consumers  

The CCPA’s involvement follows a rising number of complaints registered against Ola. Between January 1, 2024, and October 9, 2024, 2,061 complaints were filed against the company on the National Consumer Helpline (NCH). Issues included:


- Higher fares than those initially displayed at the time of booking.

- Non-refund of amounts to customers.

- Drivers requesting extra cash payments.

- Incorrect pickup or drop-off locations.


Changes to Improve Driver Experience  

Alongside consumer-focused changes, Ola has also introduced measures to improve the driver experience. These updates include encouraging drivers to accept digital payments and switch on the air conditioning when necessary. Additionally, Ola has adjusted its payment cycles for drivers to ensure timely payments, enhancing the overall service experience for both consumers and drivers.


Conclusion  

The CCPA’s directive aims to safeguard consumers’ rights by enforcing greater transparency and fairness in Ola’s service operations. The changes being implemented will ensure that Ola's refund policies, billing practices, and ride services align with legal and ethical standards, fostering consumer trust in the platform.

Location: Pune, Maharashtra, India

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Evolution of Constitution under Article 14 to 18

Image
 Evolution of Constitution under Article 14 to 18 INTRODUCTION The idea of equality referenced under Article 14 to Article 18 upgrades a more extensive idea and a more extensive part of the examination as the subject of equity itself shapes a vital and powerful idea in itself. The idea of fairness overwhelms the exceptionally two significant ideas of equivalent security of law and equity under the steady gaze of the law. Likewise, the idea of uniformity wins in a wide range of establishments and accommodates equivalent freedoms for people with the abrogation of unapproachable and nullification of titles. The idea is a more extensive methodology as it is significant for society to look to each individual with a similar methodology regardless of his sexual orientation, rank, and religion. The law is visually impaired and is equivalent for each individual as it says that balance wins for each individual and each individual has the option to be secured by the law. Evolution  The fundamenta
Read more

Legal Proceedings Initiated Against Former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren

Image
Legal Proceedings Initiated Against Former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren Cognizance Taken by PMLA Court A Special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Ranchi has taken cognizance of a prosecution complaint filed by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) against Hemant Soren, the former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). The complaint, comprising 5,500 pages, pertains to a money laundering case related to a land 'scam'. The central probe agency has also attached 8.5 acres of land in connection with the case. Detention and Extended Custody Hemant Soren, who was arrested on January 31, is currently detained at the Birsa Munda Central Jail in Hotwar, Ranchi. His judicial custody was extended till April 4 by the PMLA court on March 21. Additionally, on February 29, the Jharkhand High Court dismissed a petition filed by Soren seeking permission to attend the budget session of the state assembly. Allegations by the Enforcement Directorat
Read more

Equality Before Law

Image
                            Equality Before Law                                                   Introduction The rule of law was firstly introduced by A.V. Dicey in  his book "The Constitution Of England" in which there is rule which only prevails is law in which all are equal. In simple word if any wrong is being done which is not justifiable  by law committed by anyone that may be president, prime minister, or any individual are punishable because there is supremacy of law. Supremacy of law means the government which is power or the people who elected the government all will be treated equally before law.  Article 14 The Indian Constitution 1949, Article 14 guarantees "Equality before law The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth." In article 14 there two  approaches which include negative
Read more