The Karnataka High Court on Thursday orally observed that it was inclined to grant a full stay on the order banning bike taxis, noting that the State had yet to frame a policy in this regard.
The court was hearing a petition by major app-based aggregators such as ANI Technologies, the holding company of OLA Cabs, in the context of an April order of the Karnataka High Court that directed that aggregators cannot operate in the state unless the government notifies relevant guidelines under Section 93 of the Motor Vehicles Act.
Appearing before a division bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C M Joshi, Advocate General Shashikiran Shetty submitted that the interests of the bike riders would be covered under the Karnataka Platform Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Act, 2025, that came into effect on September 12. Shetty also argued that various app-based aggregators were in contempt of the court’s order as they were continuing to operate bike taxis.
Opposing this, Senior Advocate Dhyan Chinappa, representing bike riders, argued that these platforms were the only way for the riders to carry on their business, as unlike the autos on these platforms, they could not rely on auto stands.
After hearing the submissions, the bench orally observed, “We are inclined towards a full-fledged stay at this stage.” The bench added that a month had already been granted for the State to come up with a policy.
The matter is set to be heard after the court vacation on October 15.
As previously reported by The Indian Express, a division bench of the high court had in August questioned the government regarding the existence of a de facto ban on two-wheeler vehicles, noting that it was the State’s prerogative to regulate them, but this should not amount to a complete ban. “We will not dictate how you regulate. …but today there is no policy, only prohibition,” the bench had stated.
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Noting that lives were at stake, the court had at the time granted a month for the state government to decide on framing a policy.
On September 12, the Karnataka transport department constituted a 10-member team to analyse bike taxi policies in Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Kolkata.