Karnataka High Court Questions Legality of Blanket Ban on Bike Taxis
On August 20, the Karnataka High Court asked whether the absence of specific rules can justify a complete ban on bike taxi services in the State, noting that such a move directly affects the livelihoods of thousands of people as well as commuters.
A Bench led by Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Joshi observed that bike taxis are not a luxury but an affordable and essential option for last-mile connectivity.
The Court was hearing appeals filed by ride-hailing companies ANI Technologies (Ola), Uber, Rapido, and several bike taxi drivers. These petitions challenge a single-judge order that had stopped bike taxi operations until the State government frames proper regulations.
During the hearing, Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty defended the ban, stating that bike taxis raise safety concerns and cannot operate legally without a proper regulatory framework under the Motor Vehicles Act. However, the Court questioned this reasoning, stressing that “a lack of regulation cannot be the ground for a blanket ban that denies citizens their right to work under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution.”
The judges also noted that 13 other States already permit bike taxi services within clear guidelines. When the Advocate General argued that bike taxis may worsen traffic congestion, the Court asked whether auto-rickshaws would cause less congestion compared to bikes.
The matter has now been adjourned to September 22. The Court clarified it would not interfere with the government’s policy decisions as long as they are not arbitrary. The Advocate General assured that a final policy decision will be taken at the highest level.
