Rajasthan High Court Orders Mandatory Registration Of Ola, Uber, Swiggy, Zomato Gig Workers; Asks Companies To Consider 15% Female Drivers

The Rajasthan High Court has issued sweeping regulatory directions for app-based transport and delivery platforms, making registration of all Ola, Uber, Swiggy, Zomato drivers and other gig workers mandatory with the State Transport Department and the Director General, Cyber.

Also underscoring the need for enhanced women safety, the bench of Justice Ravi Chirania further directed the State to encourage these transportation and gig-economy companies to ensure, within six months, that at least 15% of their drivers are women, with an increase in this percentage to 25% over the next 2-3 years.

The Court issued these directions while hearing a bail application in a matter of cyber crime wherein the applicants had impersonated themselves as police officers, and extorted over Rs. 2 crore from an elderly couple by putting them under digital arrest.

It was noted that gig-economy platforms play an important role in public interaction and hence require strict regulatory oversight for both cyber-security and public safety.

While rejecting the bail application of the petitioners, apart from a bunch of directions issued for handling the issue of cyber crimes, artificial intelligence as well as deep fake, the following directions were issued in relation to the aforementioned:

1. All gig workers to be registered with DG, Cyber and a common uniform with a QR and ID card to be made mandatory for their identification, effective from February 1, 2026, and all workers to carry the ID while performing duties.
2. All Ola, Uber, cars and bike riders, and all gig workers of companies like Swiggy, Zomato etc to be compulsorily registered with State Transport Department with commercial number plate, as well as with DG, Cyber. Only the person registered with the company/authorized driver shall drive the vehicles while performing duties. This to be made effective from March 1, 2026.
3. All E-commerce and other companies like courier partners of the E-commerce companies, to be directed by ACS to appoint gig workers after police verification and complete background check. These companies to also conduct a monthly thorough checks on all activities of gig workers using AI tools and submit a quarterly report for any suspicious activity to Cyber Cells.
4. For ensuring women safety, ACS to ensure that transportation companies were encouraged to have atleast 15% female drivers in 6 months of the order that shall increase to 25% in next 2-3 years.

The Court also held that the list of directions is not exhaustive and Additional Chief Secretary, Home, in coordination with other department, shall take such other steps as needed for handling the issues.

Title: Adnan Haider Bhai v State of Rajasthan, and other connected petition

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Raj) 401

Click Here To Read/Download Order