The Delhi High Court on Wednesday questioned the Centre's 2016 policy exempting autorickshaws and e-rickshaws across India from having panic buttons or General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), saying how can it have such a scheme “in an atmosphere where women are getting raped”.
The High Court also said that “for once”, the Centre must agree with the Delhi Government, which has made it mandatory for autorickshaws to have Global Positioning System (GPS) or GPRS system under its Public Transport Policy of 2010.
The observation by Justice Rajiv Shakdher came while hearing a plea by a trade union of autorickshaws plying in the national capital seeking exemption from having GPS or GPRS systems, used for tracking vehicle location, in the three-wheelers.
“Why are three-wheelers and e-rickshaws exempted in the present environmentIJ In an atmosphere where people are getting raped, you are saying you don't want panic buttons or GPS or GPRS systems.”For once, you (Centre) must agree with them (Delhi government) that autorickshaws and e-rickshaws need GPS or GPRS system,” the court observed.
The court also issued notice to the Centre, AAP government and Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) limited and sought their stand on the plea by the next date of hearing.