Why such lenient policy on taxis, asks CIC citing Uber case

NEW DELHI: Taking cognisance of recent rape by an Uber cab driver, the Central Information Commission today pulled up the transport department, saying it is an alarming aspect that certain taxis are left free on the roads without any policy prescription for such verification and mandatory training.

It directed the department to proactively disclose the policy, in which certain taxis do not require any badge or follow stricter conditions, under Section 4(1)(c) and (d) of RTI Act, especially when these administrative decisions and policies are seriously affecting the safety of people at large in the national capital city.

"It appears that this crime could have been prevented if the transport authorities had first prescribed the badge as part of the permit conditions and enforced it strictly," Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu said in his order.

A 27-year-old woman was allegedly raped by the driver of the taxi called through Uber web application here on December 5, triggering a massive regulatory crack down of web-based taxi booking services.

Acharyulu said it should have necessitated police verification where perhaps, the rape accused Shivkumar Yadav's real character or fake certificates could have been discovered leading to refusal of permit to ply on Delhi roads.

"Absence of this rule reflects defective or bad governance of Transport Authority," he said.

The RTI applicant pleaded before the CIC that he found to his surprise that no special permit conditions were there for black and yellow taxis (DL 1T type) and tourist permit taxis (DL 1Y type).