In a landmark ruling for the state’s transport sector, the Karnataka High Court has officially quashed the state government’s previous order that prohibited the operation of bike taxis.
A division bench
comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Joshi delivered the judgment in response to legal challenges mounted by prominent aggregators, including Rapido and Uber, who contested the government’s earlier classification of these services as illegal.
Reacting to the ruling, Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said, “I am yet to see the full judgment. I will discuss it with the Transport Commissioner and decide the next course of action.”
By lifting the ban, the court has not only cleared the path for the resumption of bike taxi operations but also issued a direct mandate to the state government to draft and implement a formal regulatory policy to govern the service.
The ban had caused huge inconvenience to students and IT employees who used it for last mile connectivity after travelling in BMTC buses and Metro.
This decision is expected to provide significant relief to commuters and gig workers alike, marking a shift toward the formal integration of bike-hailing services into the urban mobility framework.
The High Court stated that bike owners or aggregators must formally submit applications seeking authorisation to utilise their motorcycles as transport vehicles. The court further emphasised that the state government is legally obligated to grant the necessary permits and licenses in accordance with the established framework of the law.
