The Delhi High Court has recently issued a notice to prominent cab-hailing services, including Uber, Ola, and Rapido, along with the Central government and the Delhi government. This notice was prompted by a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) aimed at enhancing safety measures for women using app-based taxi and ride-hailing services. The case was presented before a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, who indicated the need for accountability in safety protocols implemented by these private operators.

Court Proceedings and Allegations

The urgency of the matter was underscored during the court proceedings, where the petitioner, Aditya Sehgal, expressed concerns over the current state of safety protocols. His counsel reported that app-based companies operate more than two lakh cabs across the Delhi-NCR region. Allegations were made regarding the inadequate checking of drivers, particularly during night hours, suggesting that no verifications are performed after 8 pm or 9 pm. This raises the question of drivers’ sobriety and adherence to safety standards, especially in high-traffic locations like airports.

The PIL outlines several critical issues related to driver verification and the screening of criminal backgrounds, as well as driver and vehicle identification processes. Additionally, concerns regarding emergency response mechanisms, grievance redressal systems, and the collaboration between ride-hailing services and law-enforcement authorities were highlighted. These aspects underline the necessity for a more robust framework to protect passengers.

The court has instructed the concerned parties to submit their responses to the notice by December 16, as it prepares for further hearings. The bench’s decision reflects a commitment to ensuring that private transport operators are held accountable for their safety measures.

Key Recommendations of the PIL

The petition advocates for a series of comprehensive reforms aimed at improving safety standards within the ride-hailing domain. Notably, it requests that the identities of drivers and vehicles matched against the details shown on the applicant’s interface before a ride commences. Furthermore, passengers should be permitted to cancel rides without incurring penalties in cases where an unauthorised driver or vehicle substitution occurs, with such incidents categorised as safety concerns.

Moreover, the plea calls for the establishment of 24×7 command and control centres to efficiently manage SOS alerts. This proposed framework would allow for the sharing of essential information, including booking details, driver identity, vehicle registration, and real-time location, with emergency responders while adhering to relevant legal and privacy regulations.

Additional proposals include automated alerts triggered by significant or unexplained deviations from the designated route, alongside continuous gender-sensitivity training for drivers. Surveillance mechanisms are suggested for areas deemed vulnerable or isolated to enhance passenger safety further.

Specific Initiatives for Women’s Safety

In response to concerns surrounding women travelling alone, the petition also proposes a pool of verified female drivers. This would allow women to request or preferentially be assigned female drivers, subject to the availability of such services. The outlined measures aim to create a safer environment for women utilising ride-hailing services.

Furthermore, the establishment of a time-sensitive grievance redressal system is proposed to address complaints related to driver misconduct, harassment, assault, deviations from routes, unauthorised changes in drivers or vehicles, and failures within emergency-response systems. Additionally, the petition urges regular compliance reporting from app-based operators to ensure the uniform enforcement of safety measures across platforms active within Delhi.

The overarching goal of these initiatives is to create a safer travel experience for women, as well as to establish stricter standards and accountability mechanisms within the ride-hailing industry.

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