The Bombay high court, which last week had observed that the onus of safety of employees working late in the night lies on the employer, on Monday observed that the state should also have its own safety measures in place.
The division bench of Justice V.M. Kanade and Justice P.D. Kode hearing the confirmation of death sentence of two taxi drivers, who had gangraped and murdered a BPO employee from Pune in 2007, observed that the state should have some norms in place for the safety of commuters using public transport.
The bench further asked the state whether there are existing guidelines, rules for commuters, especially late night female travellers.
Earlier in the hearing, the HC observed that companies employing women employees, who work in night shifts must ensure their safety. It was observed that BPO companies, which usually have offices in the outskirts of the cities, must ensure that women travelling to work at night, reach their homes
safely.
Pushottam Borale (26) and Pradeep Kokade (20), the convicts before the HC, had picked up the victim. from her home in Pashan at around 10.15 pm on November 1, 2007. The duo allegedly abducted her and took her to Guhane village near Maval, where they raped and killed her.