Karnataka HC directs state to permit bike taxis, urges registration of two-wheelers as transport vehicles
BENGALURU: Giving the green signal to bike taxi services in the state, the Karnataka High Court on Friday directed the state government to consider the applications filed by transportation technology aggregators to register motorcycles as transport vehicles and to grant permits to operate as contract carriages. "Whilst the concerned authorities are not precluded from examining relevant aspects for vehicle registration and issuance of permits, the same will not be denied on the ground that motorcycles cannot be operated as transport vehicles or contract carriages," said a division bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Joshi in the order pronounced on a batch of appeals.
“We may also note that Rule 7 of the Karnataka On-demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Rules specifies certain conditions to be complied with by every taxi, including the display of a board inside the taxi containing the vehicle permit and the driver’s details. There cannot be a display board inside the motorcycle.
The said Rule must be understood to mean that the bike taxi should display the vehicle permit, as well as the driver’s details, including his photograph, name, driving licence, badge particulars, and ID card issued by the police authorities, which are accessible to the passenger,” the court said.
The court clarified that the Regional Transport Authority may impose conditions as it deems necessary, as attached to the permits, in accordance with the law and taking into account provisions of Section 74(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act.
The court passed the order while allowing a batch of appeals filed by ANI Technologies Pvt Ltd which operates Ola, Uber India Systems Pvt Ltd, Roppen Transportation Services Pvt Ltd., Bike Taxi Welfare Association and other individuals.
They had filed the appeals against a single-judge order on April 2, 2025 that had ruled that Ola, Uber and Rapido cannot offer bike taxis on their platforms unless the state government notifies the relevant guidelines under Section 93 of the Motor Vehicles Act.
Blanket ban violates Article 19(6): K’taka HC
Setting aside the single judge’s order, the court said the authorities concerned should consider the pending applications of the aggregators and pass appropriate orders. The aggregators are also at liberty to file fresh applications for licences. When applications are filed, they should be considered in accordance with law and observations made in this order, the court added.
The court said the prohibition of bike-taxi services is not compliant with Article 19(6) of the Constitution. “In our view, a blanket prohibition on issuing contract carriage permits to motorcycles cannot be considered as a reasonable restriction within the meaning of Article 19(6) of the Constitution of India for several reasons.
First, the blanket ban is contrary to the scheme and provisions of the MV Act. Second, there is no statutory rule, instrument or notification that prohibits the registration of motorcycles as transport vehicles or the issuance of contract carriage permits for motorcycles. Third, it is well settled that the greater the restriction, the higher the scrutiny required. In this case, there is a complete ban on providing bike taxi service,” the court said.