The Delhi High Court has sought responses from Ola, Uber and Rapido, along with the Centre and Delhi government, on a public interest litigation seeking stronger safety safeguards for women using app-based cabs, bike taxis and other ride-hailing services in the National Capital Region. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia issued notices to the respondents. The matter is scheduled to be heard next on December 16.

The court said the notices were being issued in the context of ensuring accountability of private operators running taxi applications for passenger safety. The PIL was filed by Aditya Sehgal, whose counsel told the court that more than two lakh cabs operate across Delhi-NCR. The petition has raised concerns over the verification of drivers and vehicles, particularly for rides booked during late hours.

One of the key demands in the petition is stricter verification to ensure that the driver and vehicle assigned to a passenger match the details displayed on the app. It also seeks the option for passengers to cancel rides without penalties when an unauthorised driver or vehicle arrives. Such cancellations, according to the plea, should be recorded as safety incidents to help identify recurring concerns and improve monitoring.

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The petition has also proposed a 24-hour command and control system to handle SOS alerts from passengers. Under the proposal, emergency responders and police could receive booking information, driver identity, vehicle registration details and real-time location during emergencies, subject to privacy safeguards. The plea further seeks technology-based alerts when vehicles make significant deviations from their expected routes.

Other measures sought include regular gender-sensitivity training for drivers and increased surveillance at locations identified as vulnerable. The petitioner has also proposed creating a pool of verified female drivers and, where available, allowing women travelling alone to request or be assigned such drivers. These proposals form part of a broader request for changes to safety systems used by app-based mobility platforms.

The case brings the safety responsibilities of private ride-hailing operators before the court as app-based transport services remain an important part of urban mobility. The Delhi High Court's notices give Ola, Uber, Rapido, the Centre and the Delhi government an opportunity to respond to the concerns and proposed safeguards raised in the PIL. The court will consider the matter further at its next hearing.

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