Bengaluru High Court Directs State On Bike Taxi Policy
The Karnataka High Court has directed the state government to decide within a month on framing a clear policy for bike taxis, underscoring that an indefinite freeze on the sector places both livelihoods and commuters’ interests at risk. The division bench, while hearing petitions by leading mobility platforms, warned that regulation cannot become a cover for prohibition. The judges emphasised that a legitimate trade cannot be extinguished under the Constitution without due justification, particularly when 13 other states have already introduced regulatory norms for bike taxis.
The court observed that treating motorcycles differently from autos or cars, which are permitted to operate as taxis, could raise constitutional questions under the right to equality and the freedom to practise trade. It cautioned the government that a “non-policy that results in prohibition” risks arbitrariness.
Officials appearing for the state argued that motorcycles are not classified as commercial transport vehicles under existing laws and therefore cannot be used as taxis without new rules. They further claimed that unchecked proliferation of nearly six lakh bike taxis in Karnataka could worsen congestion, though the bench countered by asking whether there was credible evidence to prove motorcycles cause greater congestion than autos. The contradiction between the state’s declared emphasis on last-mile connectivity and its ban on a service that directly addresses that gap came under sharp scrutiny. Observers noted that bike taxis offer a cost-efficient, quick, and eco-friendly mobility option in gridlocked cities, especially if integrated with electric fleets.
Legal experts highlighted that prohibiting such services in the absence of a policy is at odds with the principle that all trades are permissible unless explicitly barred. The bench reiterated that absence of regulation should not automatically translate into a blanket ban. Urban transport specialists view the ongoing tussle as a defining moment for India’s mobility ecosystem. With rising fuel prices, worsening air quality, and growing demand for flexible commuting, bike taxis could become a critical part of sustainable mobility if regulated effectively. Globally, similar services are being leveraged to reduce congestion and expand last-mile connectivity, particularly in dense urban corridors.
Industry representatives have welcomed the court’s intervention as a progressive step, urging the state to draft a balanced framework that ensures commuter safety, fair competition, and environmental sustainability while avoiding arbitrary restrictions. The next hearing is scheduled in September, by when the government is expected to clarify its position. For now, the fate of bike taxis in Karnataka hangs on whether regulation will pave the way for innovation or whether prohibition will continue to stall a sector seen as central to greener, accessible, and more inclusive urban transport.
