A significant victory for ride-hailing innovation: Karnataka’s High Court has dismantled the state’s prohibition on bike taxi services. Delivered on Friday by a bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Joshi, the order nullifies an earlier single-judge mandate from April that paused operations pending new rules.
The appeals, filed by Ola, Uber, Rapido, and others, challenged the ban’s legality under the Motor Vehicles Act. The court concurred, holding that motorcycles employed in bike taxis are valid transport vehicles. It rebuked the government’s permit denials, asserting that such decisions cannot hinge solely on vehicle type.
In detailed observations, the bench clarified operators’ rights to seek contract carriage permits and directed the state to process registration requests for transport use. Authorities must consider all facets, imposing conditions like those under Section 74(2)—from emission standards to operational hours.
This ruling arrives amid Bengaluru’s mobility crunch, where bike taxis have proven indispensable for last-mile connectivity. Fresh applications from aggregators will now receive due scrutiny, fostering a safer ecosystem. The decision balances entrepreneurial freedom with regulatory prudence, potentially averting unregulated proliferation.
Beyond Karnataka, this could influence policies in Mumbai, Delhi, and beyond, where bike taxis face similar hurdles. As implementation unfolds, expect heightened focus on enforcement to mitigate risks like overloading or reckless driving. The court’s measured approach signals judicial support for adaptive urban transport solutions.