High Stakes Legal Battle Over Bike Taxis in Karnataka

The Karnataka High Court witnessed intense deliberations as petitioners contested the state's comprehensive ban on bike taxis, asserting their crucial function in urban transportation. They argue that these services should be permitted under existing legal infrastructures, emphasizing their role as essential rather than luxurious.

A Division Bench, featuring Acting Chief Justice V Kameswar Rao and Justice C M Joshi, reviewed appeals from Ola, Uber, Rapido, and individual bike taxi associations against a previous judgment by a single judge that effectively halted bike taxi operations in the state. The original ruling required state government guidelines under the Motor Vehicles Act before allowing operations.

During the hearings, advocates highlighted the inconsistency with previous policy recommendations and the potential violation of constitutional rights. They argued that bike taxis support last-mile connectivity and traffic decongestion, urging the state to reconsider its stance before the next hearing scheduled for July 2.

(With inputs from agencies.)