In a significant blow to bike taxi aggregator app Rapido , the Karnataka High Court has ruled that bike taxi aggregators cannot operate in the state until the government issues specific guidelines under Section 3 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, accompanied by the necessary regulations. The court has ordered the state government and transport department to ensure all bike taxi operations stop within six weeks. Bike taxis are banned in Delhi-NCR since February 2023 by Court order.
Justice BM Shyam Prasad declared that petitioners, including Rapido, Uber, Ola, and other bike taxi aggregators, must suspend their services within the given timeframe. The state government has been granted three months to establish the required rules and guidelines for bike taxi operations.
What the Karnataka High Court said in its ruling
Delivering the verdict, Justice Prasad stressed, “The transport department cannot be compelled to register motorcycles as transport vehicles or issue contract carriage permits for such services until the government puts appropriate regulations in place.”
In court, Senior Advocate Arun Kumar, representing one of the parties, pointed out that Ola only launched its bike taxi services in April 2024. While the court noted this, it upheld that all petitioners must adhere to the directive and terminate their bike taxi operations.
The ruling also cited a 2019 expert committee report that evaluated the effects of bike taxis on traffic and safety. The court underscored the need for regulatory clarity before permitting such services to resume.
State Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, in a conversation with The Indian Express, remarked, “We will thoroughly examine the certified copy of the order. We will hold off on any action since the court has allowed six weeks for the aggregators to wind down operations. The court has also provided the state government time to develop suitable guidelines for bike taxi services, and we will proceed accordingly.”
Rapido on Karnataka High Court order
A Rapido spokesperson voiced concerns for the bike taxi riders associated with the platform. “The Hon’ble High Court of Karnataka has instructed aggregators to halt bike taxi operations after six weeks and has directed the State Transport Department to refrain from taking any adverse steps during this period. Karnataka-based Rapido is worried about the livelihoods of the lakhs of bike-taxi captains on its platform and will assess and pursue appropriate legal options once the detailed order is released,” the spokesperson stated.
Justice BM Shyam Prasad declared that petitioners, including Rapido, Uber, Ola, and other bike taxi aggregators, must suspend their services within the given timeframe. The state government has been granted three months to establish the required rules and guidelines for bike taxi operations.
What the Karnataka High Court said in its ruling
Delivering the verdict, Justice Prasad stressed, “The transport department cannot be compelled to register motorcycles as transport vehicles or issue contract carriage permits for such services until the government puts appropriate regulations in place.”
In court, Senior Advocate Arun Kumar, representing one of the parties, pointed out that Ola only launched its bike taxi services in April 2024. While the court noted this, it upheld that all petitioners must adhere to the directive and terminate their bike taxi operations.
The ruling also cited a 2019 expert committee report that evaluated the effects of bike taxis on traffic and safety. The court underscored the need for regulatory clarity before permitting such services to resume.
State Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, in a conversation with The Indian Express, remarked, “We will thoroughly examine the certified copy of the order. We will hold off on any action since the court has allowed six weeks for the aggregators to wind down operations. The court has also provided the state government time to develop suitable guidelines for bike taxi services, and we will proceed accordingly.”
Rapido on Karnataka High Court order
A Rapido spokesperson voiced concerns for the bike taxi riders associated with the platform. “The Hon’ble High Court of Karnataka has instructed aggregators to halt bike taxi operations after six weeks and has directed the State Transport Department to refrain from taking any adverse steps during this period. Karnataka-based Rapido is worried about the livelihoods of the lakhs of bike-taxi captains on its platform and will assess and pursue appropriate legal options once the detailed order is released,” the spokesperson stated.
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