HC Lifts Ban On Bike Taxi Services In Karnataka, Decision Hailed
Bike taxi operators such as OLA cabs, Uber and Rapido can file applications to get contract carriage permits to operate motorcycles as bike taxis
Bengaluru : The ban on bike taxis in Karnataka was lifted by the High Court of Karnataka on Friday while it quashed the single-judge order of April 2025 that imposed a ban on bike taxis. Last year, a single bench judge had ordered all bike taxi services to be halted in the State within six–weeks from the date of order. The High Court allowed some individual bike taxis drivers along with Bike Taxi Welfare Association filed appeals which were allowed on Friday.
“Taxi owners are liberty to file applications for registration of the vehicle as a transport vehicle. We direct the State Government to consider such applications for registration of the owner of the vehicle as a transport vehicle and grant permission to operate as contract carriages,” the Court said.
The High Court said motorcycles used for bike taxi services fall under the purview of definition of “transport vehicles” under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the State Government cannot refuse or deny permits to bike taxis on the ground that the motorcycles are not transport vehicles.
The Court said bike taxi operators such as OLA cabs, Uber and Rapido can file applications to get contract carriage permits to operate motorcycles as bike taxis and stated The State Government is free to examine all relevant aspects to decide whether to accept such applications for registrations. However, it said permits cannot be refused merely on the ground that the vehicle is a motorcycle.
The lifting of a ban on bike taxi services was welcomed by Bharatiya Janata Party Lok Sabha member P.C. Mohan. The MP termed the ban lift as “It not only upholds the rule of law but also encourages innovation, protects livelihoods and strengthens affordable last-mile mobility.” BJP Member of Parliament Tejasvi Surya said the Court’s order revoking the ban on bike taxis is indeed progressive.
While business leader T.V. Mohandas Pai hailed the High Court decision and stated “Great decision. Public interests come first. Citizens need this service as both Metro and Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation are failing citizens.”