Child lock disabled in 42,000 cabs: Govt to HC

The child lock feature has been disengaged in 42,000 out of 2.5 lakh cabs in the state, the government submitted to the high court on Wednesday.

In the next three months, the feature would be removed from the remaining cabs, it added.

A division bench headed by Acting Chief Justice L Narayana Swamy was hearing the public interest litigation filed by Bangalore Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology seeking directions to the authorities concerned to disable the system in cabs in the wake of crimes being committed against women travelling in cabs.

In the last hearing, the government had told the court that it had issued notices to the cab aggregators to deactivate the feature in taxis.

The petitioner had filed the petition after being aggrieved by the inaction of the authorities in ensuring the safety of women travelling in cabs in Bengaluru and other parts of the state.

The petitioner had contended that the child safety locks are built into the rear doors of most cars to prevent the rear seat passengers from opening the door while in motion, and this feature has been in existence since the 1980s in most cars. The intent was to provide the driver with a safe method to prevent children from opening the door, the petitioner said.

The feature gets activated when one gets into the car. Once in the car, it is impossible for the passenger to open the door and run out in case of an emergency. The passenger is trapped inside and is at the mercy of the driver.

The petitioner had further contended that despite increasing crimes against women in the city, the government and the authorities concerned have failed to take any action.

Following the submission of the state to disengage the lock from the remaining cabs, the court disposed of the petition.