Transport dept to tweak rules on app-based taxis on HC's suggestions

The state Transport department has decided to make a few changes to the newly framed Karnataka On-Demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Rules, 2016, following Thursday’s high court order, which termed some rules as unconstitutional.

“The high court has upheld many rules in favour of the government, while only a few rules were declared unconstitutional. We will revise some of the rules after consulting our legal experts. We are yet to receive a copy of the high court order,” Transport Commissioner M K Aiyappa said.

He explained: “We have received a lot of complaints from the public in connection with the services of cabs attached to aggregators.

There is no safety of passengers particularly women. Hence, rules were framed by consulting experts.

The high court has suggested a few changes and we will abide by it,” the commissioner added.

The High Court had declared seeking access to personal information about passengers, making aggregators provide security deposit of Rs 1 lakh for up to 1,000 taxis and prohibiting aggregators and the drivers from independent operation or booking directly as unconstitutional. 

On the other side, the court upheld the state government’s power to frame Aggregation Rules.

The transport department had made it mandatory for taxis to have panic buttons, display board, verification of antecedents of the driver, suspension of licence among others.