Govt asks states, UTs to stop web-based cab services

Tribune News Service & Agencies

New Delhi, December 9

The government today asked states to stop operations of all web-based taxi services and called the rape of a 27-year-old executive a “national shame”.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh in the Rajya Sabha said the government would take all measures to ensure the safety of women across the country and do everything possible to bring criminals to justice.

The Home Minister called upon state governments and union territories to ban all web-based taxi services.

“The Ministry of Home Affairs has advised the state governments and UT administrations to ensure that the operations of web-based taxi services are stopped and service providers, which are not licensed with them, are prohibited from operating till they get themselves registered,” Singh said while making it clear that the government was not in favour of banning taxi services but wanted to regulate them.

“The Delhi Police are also exploring the possible legal liability of the taxi service Uber in the crime committed,” the Home Minister said in his statement.

He said: “This government strongly condemns the incident of rape in a cab. We will do everything possible to bring criminals to justice. We have advised state governments to ensure such cab companies do not hire drivers who are not registered,” he said while promising swift action in the case.

Upper House members during the Zero Hour voiced concern over the latest incident of rape of a young executive in the national capital. The House stood as one in condemning the crime and demanding action against the guilty. Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said the House condemned the crime and hoped the government would take steps to punish the culprit and ensure such crimes did not recur.

The Home Minister said the government had issued instructions for PCR vans not to wait for people to call on phone No. 100. They should move as soon as they get information by any means.

He said special investigation units had been constituted in 150 districts for cases of dowry, rape, acid attack, etc., and that the PCR vans had been increased to over 1,000 from 370.

He pointed out that Delhi had the highest conviction rate in the country with maximum number of fast track courts available. He said the government had indentified 255 isolated locations and increased the security there.

Besides, the number of CCTV cameras had been increased and the GPS system had been made mandatory for all taxies. Earlier, Rajani Patel (Congress) said the previous UPA government’s initiative to start a website to name-and-shame rape convicts had been given a quiet burial. Noting that names of sexual offenders in countries such as the US and South Africa were put on the website, she demanded the revival of the initiative. She alleged that before coming to power, the BJP had made tall promises but women were more insecure under its rule.