15% drivers in ride booking apps must be women, HC tells Raj govt

Court issues 35-point order aimed at strengthening state’s counter to spurt in cybercrimes

- RAJESH ASNANI @ Jaipur

THE Rajasthan High Court has directed the state government to substantially increase the number of women drivers on ride-booking platforms.

At least 15% of all app-based drivers must be women within the next six months, with the target rising to 25% over the following two to three years. The court also said that ride-hailing apps should give women passengers the option to choose a woman driver as the first preference.

Justice Ravi Chirania issued the directives as part of a detailed 35-point order aimed at strengthening the state’s response to what the court described as a “rapidly escalating cybercrime crisis.” The order was passed while hearing the bail applications of two Gujarat residents accused of posing as law-enforcement authorities and duping an elderly couple of 2.02 crore. Their bail pleas were rejected.