Above: Cab drivers in New Delhi

The case wherein the Delhi High Court took suo motu cognizance of crimes being committed by taxi drivers in Delhi, including rape, in gross violation of norms came up again in the Court on Tuesday (January 9). The counsel for the Delhi government told the Court that the new city taxi policy of the Delhi government and the Licensing and Regulation of App-based Aggregators Rules, 2017, are still under consideration by a committee subject to the approval of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. He sought more time to submit the report. The Court agreed and listed the matter for March 5, 2018.

The Delhi High court had earlier taken suo motu cognizance of a report published in the Times of India (Delhi edition), “Rape in cab brings back focus on blatant violation of norms”.

The report pointed out that the Delhi traffic police and the police authorities, in general, were unable to enforce norms on taxi drivers in Delhi and this resulted in serious crimes, including sexual violence against passengers.

In the last hearing, the Delhi government counsel had submitted a status report, which inter alia informed the Court that it was finalising a new city taxi policy and the Licensing and Regulation of App Based Aggregators Rules, 2017.

The Court was also told that these rules are based on the report of the Union Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways.

The Delhi government had sought four weeks’ time to place the rules before Court.

—India Legal Bureau