In response to a plea asking for an order to guarantee disabled-friendly access on the mobile application that offers bike taxis and logistics services, the Delhi High Court on Thursday sent notice to Rapido and others. Two disabled individuals, a lawyer and a banker, have initiated this petition. Rapido and the Central Government received a notice from Justice Subramonium Prasad requesting that they submit a response. A follow-up hearing has been scheduled for 15 December.
Amar Jain, a corporate lawyer, legal policymaker, disability rights advocate, and blind person from birth, has filed the petition. A different petitioner with complete visual impairment, Dipto Ghosh works as a banker at the Indian Bank in Siliguri, West Bengal.
The petition has been moved by advocate Rahul Bajaj against Roppen Transport Services Private Ltd. (Rapido), a mobile application that provides Indian bike taxis and logistics services. The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways as well as the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disability (DEPW) Government of India have also been arrayed as respondents.
It is stated that the petitioners are both working individuals who frequently book rides via the Rapido mobile app to commute from their homes to workplaces and elsewhere. Petitioner Amar Jain has to juggle between courts and attends office during his day while Dipto Ghosh commutes daily to his office, the plea stated.
For this, they have to rely on the Rapido mobile app; however, the inaccessibility issues of the application cause significant hindrances to using it, it added.