An amount of Rs five lakh as compensation and an additional sum of Rs 50,000 as a cover for litigation expenses  was  ordered to be paid to a woman by  ANI Technologies, the parent company of OLA Cabs who were  hauled up by the High Court of Karnataka’s  single-judge bench of Justice M G S Kamal,  who  took serious note of the company’s dereliction in  declining to investigate the  case of the   woman passenger who was  allegedly  sexually assaulted by one of their drivers’ during a trip in 2019. 

The Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) of OLA has also been directed to initiate a thorough inquiry within the purview    of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act).  The inquiry is to be concluded within 90 days and the report  is to be submitted to the District Officer stated the court. The presiding Judge also notified that all parties must comply with Section 16 of the POSH Act, accentuating that identities of those involved must be kept confidential.

It was the case of the petitioner that she was subjected to harassment by a driver of OLA cabs therefore she approached OLA to lodge a formal complaint against their driver. But the ICC declined to investigate the complaint going by the advice of their external legal counsel.  When the company refused to remedy the wrong she sought relief from the High Court, requesting that directives be given to OLA Cabs to examine her complaint and for the Ministry of Women and Child Development to ensure that the company sticks to POSH guidelines. The State has also been called upon to ensure implementation of protective regulations for women and children hailing taxi services. 

Taking serious note of the instant issue the Court has directed the Karnataka State Road Safety Authority  to expedite the process of issuing notice to ANI Technologies, with a deadline of 90 days for completion of  the inquiry.  By way of penalty the State Government also has been ordered to pay an amount of Rs. One lakh for failing to respond to the instant petition satisfactorily.