Bike taxi services suspended across Karnataka following High Court order

Bike taxi operations in Karnataka have come to a complete halt after a High Court directive mandating their suspension took effect on Monday.

Major ride-hailing platforms such as Ola, Uber, and Rapido have complied with the order, removing bike taxi options from their apps.

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy confirmed the action, stating that the companies are obligated to follow the court's ruling. “Three months ago, the court ruled that bike taxis are illegal. It initially gave six weeks, and then another six weeks on request. Now that 12 weeks have passed, the aggregators must follow the High Court order,” Reddy told PTI.

The development follows the Karnataka High Court’s division bench decision on Friday to uphold an earlier single-judge ruling from April 2, which found bike taxis to be in violation of the Motor Vehicles Act in the absence of state-sanctioned rules. The court had originally provided a six-week period for compliance, later extending the deadline to June 15 upon request.

The division bench, consisting of Acting Chief Justice V Kameshwar Rao and Justice Sreenivas Harish Kumar, was reviewing appeals filed by Uber India Systems Pvt Ltd, ANI Technologies Pvt Ltd (Ola), and Roppen Transportation Services Pvt Ltd (Rapido), who had sought a stay on the April order.

However, the bench declined to offer any relief, citing the state government’s clear decision not to introduce specific regulatory guidelines. “If the state had indicated any progress in rule-making, we might have considered a stay,” the court noted, while also issuing notices to the state and other parties involved. The matter will be taken up again on June 24.

Amid the crackdown, Tanveer Pasha, president of the Ola Uber Drivers and Owners’ Association, urged strict enforcement of the ruling. “The government should seize bikes operating illegally and take legal action against violators,” he demanded.

Rapido, which was not among the petitioners, issued a statement acknowledging the court’s decision while voicing concern for its drivers. “Even though we are not the initiating party in the ongoing case, we have remained engaged as a responsible stakeholder. This is a challenging time for our captains—many of whom rely on bike taxis as their primary income source,” the company said.

Rapido also emphasised its willingness to collaborate with the government to create a “compliant, sustainable, and future-ready” regulatory structure. “Our priority is to protect the interests of gig workers while ensuring commuter safety. We are actively pursuing all avenues to support our captains and hope our dialogue with the government leads to a viable policy, as seen in several other states and union territories,” the statement read.

Uber confirmed the suspension of its bike taxi services effective June 16, expressing disappointment over the impact on users and drivers. “This decision affects thousands of riders and drivers who depend on bike taxis daily. We will continue to engage with the Government of Karnataka to help develop a progressive policy that ensures safe, accessible, and affordable mobility for all,” the company said.