The Delhi High Court has asked the Aam Aadmi Party government and the Delhi Police to check the antecedents of all drivers of app-based cabs plying in the Capital and to verify their licences in order to ensure safety of passengers. The cab aggregators will be required to provide these details to the government authorities.
Justice J.R. Midha of the High Court directed the taxi operators to provide details of their drivers, along with the taxi registration numbers and details of driving licences within two weeks. Thereafter, the authorities concerned will check the antecedents of drivers to check for criminal backgrounds.
The court asked the Delhi government to appoint a nodal officer for collating the information and file an affidavit with regard to the status of its direction within four weeks.
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The court’s directions came during the hearing on a writ petition moved by Magic Sewa Private Limited, a radio taxi service operator, alleging that certain unlicensed taxi aggregators were violating the Delhi government’s notification on fares by charging low amounts like Rs.5 per km or as high as Rs.38 per km.
The Judge posted the matter for July 22 while saying that the Delhi government could move the court if taxi operators do not comply with the directions.