Karnataka High Court clears way for bike taxis, overturns state ban

Bengaluru

In a significant relief to ride-hailing platforms and bike owners, the Karnataka High Court has ruled that motorcycles can be used as transport vehicles, effectively allowing their operation as bike taxis in the state.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C.M. Joshi set aside the earlier order of a single-judge bench that had upheld the state government’s decision to ban bike taxi services. With this ruling, bike taxi operations in Karnataka have received legal clearance, subject to regulatory compliance.

The state government had earlier prohibited the use of two-wheelers as taxis, prompting aggregators such as Ola and Uber to challenge the decision before the High Court. Accepting the appeals filed by these companies, the division bench quashed the ban and held that motorcycles are eligible to be used as transport vehicles under the law.

However, the court also laid down two important conditions. It directed that bike owners or aggregator platforms must formally apply for permission to operate motorcycles as transport vehicles. The bench further stated that the government is required to consider such applications and issue licences in accordance with existing legal provisions.

The ruling is expected to revive bike taxi services across Karnataka, which were suspended following the state’s ban, and could provide a boost to last-mile connectivity and employment opportunities in urban areas.

The detailed order clarifies that while bike taxis are permissible, their operation must strictly adhere to licensing and regulatory norms prescribed under the law.