Karnataka High Court Lifts Ban On Bike Taxis, Services To Resume In Bengaluru

Bengaluru: The ongoing controversy regarding bike taxis in Karnataka now seems to be going in a new direction after the High Court's decision. On Friday, the court gave permission to run bike taxi services across the state. Along with this, the old order was cancelled, due to which platforms like Rapido, Ola and Uber had to stop their bike taxi services. This decision is being seen as a relief not only for tech companies but also for thousands of riders and urban commuters.

What did the High Court say clearly in its decision?

The division bench said that under the Motor Vehicles Act, two-wheelers can also run as contract carriages. In such a situation, the transport department cannot deny registration or a permit by saying that the bike cannot be a transport vehicle.

On what basis were bike taxis banned earlier?

Earlier in April 2025, a single judge bench had banned bike taxi services. The court had at that time said that since clear guidelines and state level rules under Section 93 do not exist, aggregators cannot run bike taxis.

What arguments did the state government give regarding the ban?

The government's argument was that the Karnataka On-Demand Transportation Technology Aggregator Rules, 2016 applied only to four-wheeler taxis. Apart from this, issues like opposition of auto and taxi unions, law and order concerns, misuse of white-board vehicles, and women's safety were also mentioned.

What did the companies and riders say in the appeal?

Uber, Ola, Rapido, and bike taxi drivers said that when the central law itself allows bike taxis, the state government cannot stop it, citing policy. He also argued that the e-bike taxi scheme was withdrawn without a concrete study.

What instructions did the High Court give to the Transport Department?

The court said that bike taxi owners can apply to register their vehicles as transport vehicles. The government will have to consider such applications and issue contract carriage permits.

What interim relief did the court give in August 2025?

While the case was pending, the division bench had given oral directions that no strict action should be taken against individual bike taxi drivers and they should not be harassed.

Where will this decision have the biggest impact?

In cities like Bengaluru, bike taxis are considered an important means of last-mile connectivity. Office goers, students, and delivery workers depend on these services to a great extent.

Why is this decision important for riders?

The livelihood of thousands of bike taxi drivers is linked to these platforms. Their income was affected due to the services being closed for a long time. The court's decision has given them hope to start working again.

Is this decision a signal for other states also?

Legal experts believe that this order of the Karnataka High Court can also become an example for those states where the situation regarding bike taxis is not yet clear.