Punjab and Haryana High Court takes up safety of taxi users

CHANDIGARH: Underlining immediate need for safety of passengers in web-based taxis across the country, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday held that the matter is of "utmost public importance". The single Judge took note of recent incidents of misbehaviour with passengers including alleged rape of a passenger by driver of Uber taxi service in Delhi.

A week after the Ministry of Home Affairs instructed against the operation of web-based taxi service across the country, its instructions were on Monday challenged by Meru Cab Service. The company petitioned the High Court challenging the ban on its plying. It challenged the instructions issued by the MHA to all States not permitting web -ased taxi services to ply.

Justice K Kannan expanded the purview of the case and observed that the case needs to be decided by a larger Bench. "The issue has obtained national attention as a sequel to serious incidents of sexual violence in an internationally renowned cab service which did not conform to the NCT Regulation of Radio Taxi Scheme 2006" reads the order.

Justice Kannan further ruled "the web based service, it is perceived to be not sufficiently safe for a passenger. While a radio taxi has licence model with the government, web based cab services are not so registered. They also lack safety measure such GPS/GPRS system and are not fully equipped with 24x7 call centres".

Deciding to take cognizance of the larger issue, Justice Kannan held "the instructions from the Home Ministry addresses a national concern for the safety of the passengers in taxi services run in major cities, where the users are young persons and who may be compelled, on account of working hours to avail of such services late night and when there is no traffic or human movement."

The matter has been placed before acting Chief Justice for "appropriate order". A larger Bench will be constituted to decide the issue which will have far reaching consequences concerning fate of web based taxi service and safety of passengers.