Mumbai Cab Drivers Challenge Marathi Rule in Bombay High Court

Four app-based cab drivers in Mumbai have filed a petition in the Bombay High Court challenging a Maharashtra government rule that makes working knowledge of the Marathi language mandatory for auto rickshaw, taxi, and app-based cab drivers. The petition, filed on August 25, 2026, argues that the requirement violates fundamental rights and threatens the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of drivers, particularly migrant workers. The legal challenge seeks an immediate stay on the implementation of the government's August 12 notification. The petitioners, identified as Mohammed Kasim Ahmad, Mohammed Tauseef Shaikh, Siyad Ahamad, and Sadik Nasir Ali Khan, contend that the rule is unconstitutional and beyond the state's authority. They argue it infringes upon their rights to equality, freedom of trade, and the right to life under Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Indian Constitution. Furthermore, they assert that the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, does not grant the state government power to prescribe language knowledge as a condition for a driving license, badge, or permit.