Automobile desk: Delhi High Court has adopted a very strict and strict stance regarding the safety of women passengers traveling by cab or bike taxi through the app in the capital Delhi and surrounding areas (NCR). The court has issued notices to the major companies providing app-based cab and ride-sharing services – Uber, Ola and Rapido – raising questions over their working style and security arrangements. Along with this, the court has also sought the opinion of the Central Government and Delhi Government on this entire matter.
This entire action took place during the hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). While hearing the PIL, the bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Tejas Karia made very harsh remarks. The bench said in clear words that it is very important that the private aggregator companies which are providing transport services to lakhs of people every day through apps, should be made fully accountable for the safety of the passengers, especially women, using their platform. The court wants to ensure that how seriously and responsibly these companies go beyond paper promises and implement the system designed for the safety of passengers on the ground.
According to the petition filed in the court, more than 2 lakh cabs of different app-based companies operate in the Delhi-NCR region alone. The lawyer appearing on behalf of the petitioner raised a serious issue before the court that there is no concrete and regular checking at the ground level of the vehicles and their drivers running on the roads late at night. Often after 8 or 9 pm at important locations, such as airports, railway stations or major intersections, there is no robust tracking of who is driving. The petition also expressed apprehension that many times drivers drive in an intoxicated state, which poses a serious threat to the safety of women passengers.
Many important and practical proposals have been made in the petition demanding comprehensive reforms in the security system. The most important demand among these is that mandatory police verification of drivers should be done and their previous criminal records should be regularly checked. It is often seen that the driver whose photo and vehicle number is shown in the app, reaches the spot by a different vehicle or driver. The petition demands that if there is any discrepancy between the information shown on the app and the driver or vehicle present at the spot, the passenger should be given the right to cancel the ride immediately without any penalty. Not only this, such incidents should not be considered as minor mistakes but should be directly registered as safety incidents.
It has been recommended to set up a 24-hour central command and control center for emergency protection of women passengers. This control center should facilitate that as soon as a passenger presses the SOS button, help should reach immediately. In case of emergency, the live location of the vehicle, driver's details and vehicle number can be shared directly with the police and emergency response team while remaining within the ambit of law and privacy.
Additionally, if a driver deviates from the designated route without any reason and takes a deserted or isolated route, the passenger should immediately receive an automatic route-deviation alert from the app. It has also been suggested to provide regular training to drivers to sensitize them towards women and increase GPS monitoring in isolated areas.
Another unique and useful proposal has been made in the petition—creating a special pool of verified women drivers. Through this, women passengers traveling alone will get the option to choose or give priority to a woman driver for their ride.
The High Court has directed all concerned parties, companies and governments to file their detailed replies in this matter. The court will now hear the matter next on December 16, where it will be decided to what extent these rules related to women's safety are made mandatory for app cab companies.
