Bengaluru, April 29: The Karnataka government has approached the Supreme Court to contest the recent High Court decision that lifted the ban on bike taxi services.
This appeal has been filed against ANI Technologies and other cab aggregators. As of now, a hearing date in the Supreme Court has not been set for this appeal, which was submitted last week.
Notably, the High Court stated that the state cannot deny permits solely based on the vehicle being a motorcycle. This ruling was made by a bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C.M. Joshi while hearing appeals from taxi aggregators like Ola, Uber, and Rapido.
The bench led by Justice B. Shyam Prasad overturned a previous order issued by a single judge in April 2025, which had directed the state to suspend bike taxi services until comprehensive regulations were established.
The earlier ruling indicated that bike taxi services could not operate without a clear legal framework. In response, cab aggregators and driver organizations argued that such a ban adversely affects their livelihoods.
The bench agreed with this argument, stating that preventing motorcycles from operating as contract carriers constitutes an unreasonable restriction on the freedom to trade and practice a profession under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution.
The court also clarified that motorcycles fall under the category of ‘transport vehicles’ as per the Motor Vehicle Act, and thus cannot be excluded from receiving taxi permits. However, the court acknowledged that the state retains the authority to regulate bike taxi services and impose rules and conditions, but applications cannot be rejected solely on the basis that the vehicle is a motorcycle.
My name is Narendra Jijhontiya. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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