The Karnataka High Court has adjourned the appeals filed by Rapido, Uber, and Ola challenging the bike taxi ban. The matter is now scheduled to be heard on November 14 at 3 PM.
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court recently heard appeals filed by Rapido, Uber, and Ola, who are challenging a previous order that prohibited bike taxi operations in the state.
The earlier single-judge order had directed that such services must remain suspended until the government issues proper guidelines and rules under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
The appeals, filed under case number CS(COMM)-1028/2024, were taken up by a bench headed by Justice Amit Bansal. During the hearing, as the Advocate General was engaged before another bench, the State’s counsel requested the court to
“have the matter listed next week.”
The matter will now be relisted on November 14 at 3 PM for further hearing.
Background
The single-judge order being challenged had clearly stated that bike taxis cannot function in Karnataka until the state officially notifies the required framework under Section 93 of the Motor Vehicles Act.
This effectively paused the operations of major ride-hailing companies that offer two-wheeler rides to passengers.
The aggregator companies have argued that the restriction is unfair and violates their fundamental right to carry on business under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution.
They maintained that two-wheelers can legally be classified and registered as transport vehicles, and therefore, the state government cannot impose a blanket ban on such services.
According to their submission,
“By refusing to register vehicles as transport vehicles or issue contract carriage permits for motorcycles, the state is effectively denying citizens their right to carry on a lawful business.”
They further emphasized that,
“The law enables registration of two-wheelers as transport vehicles. If the statute allows it, the state cannot override it by denying registration or permits.”
On the other hand, the State Government has defended the ban, arguing that the current legal setup does not allow motorcycles with white number plates—registered as private vehicles—to be used for passenger transport.
It has also said that new state-specific guidelines are essential before such services can be legally operated.
This case has drawn significant attention as it affects thousands of bike taxi riders, daily commuters, and the growing mobility sector in Karnataka.
The High Court’s upcoming decision is expected to play a key role in determining whether bike taxi operations will be permitted to resume under a structured regulatory framework or remain suspended until new rules are framed.
As the matter has now been adjourned, the next hearing is likely to take place next week when the Advocate General is available to present the State’s arguments in full.
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