The Rajasthan High Court has asked the state government to ensure that app-based ride-hailing platforms engage at least 15 percent women drivers within the next six months. The target, the court said, should later be raised to 25 percent over the next two to three years.
Justice Ravi Chirania, issuing a detailed 35-point order, also directed ride-hailing apps to give women passengers the option to choose a woman driver as their first preference.
Court Calls Cybercrime an Escalating Threat
In a strongly worded observation, the court described cybercrime as an “unstoppable and rapidly escalating threat” and pressed for urgent structural reforms in Rajasthan’s cyber-policing system.
It noted that while the post of Director General, Cyber Crimes was created in 2024, the state still “does not yet have an adequate system” to investigate or respond to digital offences. The court directed the government to set up a Rajasthan Cyber Crime Control Centre on the model of the Union government’s I4C.
Bail Pleas of Two Accused Rejected
The directions came while the court was hearing bail applications filed by two Gujarat residents accused of posing as law-enforcement officers and cheating an elderly Jodhpur couple of Rs 2.02 crore. Both men, lodged in Jodhpur Central Jail, were denied bail.
Key Directives to Telecom Sector and Banks
Among the major reforms ordered:
- Telecom companies must conduct strict verification before issuing a fourth SIM card to any individual.
- The state must monitor dead or inactive bank accounts and mandate physical KYC for them.
- Banks and financial institutions have been directed to suspend or deny internet banking access to suspicious accounts or those with annual transactions of less than Rs 50,000 over the past three years.
Rules for Gig Workers from February
The court ordered that all gig workers operating in Rajasthan be brought under a formal registration system supervised by the Director General, Cyber Crimes.
Starting February 1 next year, gig workers must wear a uniform or follow a dress code and carry a QR-coded ID card to present on demand. They will also be required to register with the Transport Department and operate only vehicles bearing commercial number plates.
Restrictions on Second-Hand Devices, Mobile Use in Schools
The sale and purchase of second-hand digital devices will now face tighter scrutiny. Schools have been told to introduce a clear SOP regulating mobile phone use for students up to Class 9 or those below 16 years of age.
