Women's safety in app-based cabs and bike taxis has come under fresh scrutiny after the Delhi High Court issued notices to Uber, Ola and Rapido, along with the central and Delhi governments.
The notices were issued during a hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking stronger safety measures for women using ride-hailing services. The court wants to examine the responsibility of private companies in ensuring passenger safety and has asked the concerned parties to submit their responses.
The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for December 16.
Why has the Delhi High Court stepped in?
The PIL, filed by Aditya Sehgal, seeks stronger safety standards for women travelling in app-based cabs, bike taxis and other ride-hailing services.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Tejas Karia questioned the safety responsibilities of private ride-hailing companies and issued notices to the companies concerned.
The petition argues that stronger systems are needed to verify drivers, monitor rides and respond quickly when passengers face an emergency.
Concerns over driver checks at night
During the hearing, the petitioner claimed that more than 2 lakh app-based cabs operate across Delhi-NCR.
The petition also raised concerns about driver verification, particularly during late-night hours. It argued that checks should be strengthened to determine whether drivers are operating in sensitive locations such as airports and whether they are fit to drive.
The petition has also called for measures to identify and prevent cases where drivers may be operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol.
Driver and vehicle verification
One of the key demands in the PIL is that the driver and vehicle details displayed on the app should accurately match the person and vehicle providing the ride.
The petition seeks stronger verification of drivers, including checks of their identities and criminal backgrounds.
It also proposes that if a driver or vehicle is changed without the passenger's prior knowledge, the passenger should be allowed to cancel the booking without facing a cancellation penalty.
Such unauthorised changes could also be recorded as safety-related incidents for further review.
A 24-hour system for emergency alerts
The PIL has proposed the creation of a 24-hour command and control centre to respond to SOS alerts from passengers.
Under the proposal, emergency teams or police could receive relevant information such as booking details, driver identity, vehicle registration number and the passenger's live location when necessary and legally permissible.
The aim is to reduce response time when a passenger reports a serious safety concern.
Alerts if a driver takes an unexpected route
Another proposal focuses on route deviations.
The petition seeks an automatic alert for passengers if a driver significantly deviates from the designated route without a valid reason. Such a system could help passengers identify unusual changes during a journey and seek assistance when required.
Regular training for drivers
The PIL has also called for regular training programmes for drivers, particularly on appropriate behaviour and sensitivity towards women passengers.
It has suggested greater monitoring in isolated or sensitive areas as another measure to improve passenger security.
A separate option for verified women drivers
The petition has proposed creating a verified pool of women drivers.
If such a pool is available, women travelling alone could be given the option to request or prioritise a female driver, depending on availability.
The proposal is aimed at giving passengers an additional choice when booking a ride, particularly during late-night travel.
What happens next?
The Delhi High Court has currently sought responses from Uber, Ola, Rapido and the government authorities involved.
The companies and governments will now have an opportunity to present their positions on the proposed safety measures. The court will consider the responses in the next hearing scheduled for December 16.
The case could have wider implications for the safety standards expected from app-based transportation platforms, particularly when it comes to driver verification, emergency response, ride monitoring and the protection of women passengers.
