End of road for Uber taxis in Delhi as govt bans operations

New Delhi: Delhi government today banned all operations by private cab service Uber with immediate effect and blacklisted it from providing any transport service in the national capital in the wake of the alleged rape incident in a taxi plying for it.

The action came a day after a taxi driver employed by Uber was arrested from Mathura for allegedly raping a 27-year-old woman executive in his cab. "The transport department has banned all activities related to providing of any transport service by www.uber.com with immediate effect. The department has also blacklisted the company from providing any transport service in the NCT of Delhi in future," the Delhi government said in a statement.

It said the Transport Department has cancelled the permit and registration certificate of the taxi (DL1YD 7910) and driving licence of the accused. According to the department, the taxi permit was granted on May 28, 2014, after due verification of character and antecedents of the permit holder.

Government said that Uber, the US-based cab firm, misled the commuter (rape victim) about the nature of the taxi service offered by its App. Condemning the unfortunate and heinous crime committed by the taxi driver, it also said, "The All India Tourist Permit taxi was provided by M/s. Uber on the request of the commuter through the Uber Web application for a local journey within Delhi which was in contravention of the MV Act, 1988, and rules framed there under.

"M/s Uber also misled the commuter about the nature of the taxi service offered by the 'Uber App'," said a senior government official. The official also said that the government took such a decision keeping in view the violations and the horrific crime committed by the driver.

The shocking incident, which took place days ahead of the second anniversary of the December 16 gangrape, has sparked outrage as it brought back memories of the horrific crime.