Final Up to date:August 22, 2025, 00:12 IST
Transport minister Ramalinga Reddy informed News18 that whereas the federal government accepts HC’s 1-month time restrict to border coverage, the court docket did not elevate the ban or permit service resumption
News18 spoke to a few bike pilots, or captains, as they’re known as. When requested how they knew they might resume service, they stated they have been intently following the Excessive Court docket proceedings. Representational picture
Open the Rapido or Uber app as we speak and take a look at reserving a motorbike taxi—you could be stunned. The apps, which had suspended the service after the Karnataka authorities imposed a ban on two-wheeler taxis, have as soon as once more resumed operations.
Bookings at the moment are going by means of virtually immediately, although the ban got here into drive on June 16, following a Karnataka Excessive Court docket directive that such companies stop operations after June 15.
News18 spoke to a few bike pilots, or captains, as they’re known as. When requested how they knew they might resume service, they stated they have been intently following the Excessive Court docket proceedings.
“We knew that we’d be allowed, because the HC has been sympathetic in direction of us since that is our supply of livelihood. I’ve a daughter who goes to highschool and a youthful one who’s simply ten months outdated. I’ve to run my household and guarantee I convey meals to the desk,” the captain stated and repeatedly requested to not be named.
One other bike taxi pilot from a special aggregator platform stated that he was informed by his pals within the Bike Riders Affiliation that they might begin operations and that the federal government must give the inexperienced sign.
“The second I heard it, I went to my common space the place I used to get plenty of college-going college students utilizing my bike service, and I used to be so blissful to listen to that sound ‘ting-ting’ that informed me that bookings have been coming in,” he stated.
“Our lives matter,” pleaded bike taxi riders, who had been ready for the ban to be lifted. This was additionally the argument that was made in court docket.
After a 67-day suspension, Uber and Rapido resumed bike taxi companies in Karnataka on Thursday. A division bench of the Excessive Court docket, consisting of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C. M. Joshi, allowed the federal government a month’s time to border a complete coverage, citing that “lives are at stake on this matter.”
The federal government had earlier imposed the ban from June 16, with RTOs seizing bikes and levying heavy penalties, forcing aggregators to halt companies. Firms then approached the court docket, which has now adjourned the listening to on their appeals to September 22, urging the state to deal with the matter critically because it impacts the livelihoods of lakhs of individuals.
However desperation additionally led to determined measures. In the course of the ban, riders in Bengaluru turned to contacting previous prospects privately on WhatsApp, providing rides utilizing saved numbers from earlier journeys or by calling after parcel bookings.
This unofficial workaround helped commuters keep away from excessive auto fares however raised critical privateness issues and remained outdoors authorized regulation.
The ban itself sparked big outrage in Bengaluru, with many arguing that bike taxis have been a quicker and extra economical possibility at a time when autorickshaw and cab fares had soared. The Karnataka Excessive Court docket, too, strongly criticised the federal government’s resolution, calling its rationale “skinny” and “legally untenable”.
Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru, who headed the bench, reiterated that bike taxis weren’t a luxurious however a necessity, significantly for inexpensive last-mile connectivity in cities. The court docket additionally supplied reduction to operators by directing the advocate normal to make sure no coercive or punitive motion is taken in opposition to drivers in the interim.
“They’ve discovered a loophole the place it’s stated that no coercive or punitive motion is taken in opposition to drivers by the Karnataka Excessive Court docket,” stated a supply within the Karnataka Auto Drivers Affiliation. “The court docket had clearly stated that whereas the federal government has been given time to border a complete bike taxi coverage, no motion will be taken in opposition to aggregators. That’s the level they’re utilizing to renew operations.”
Transport minister Ramalinga Reddy informed reporters, “On Wednesday, the Karnataka Excessive Court docket adjourned the listening to for a month, directing the federal government to make its stand clear on coverage, observing that in lots of different states, bike taxis are operational. However the court docket has not allowed aggregators to renew their operations. I’ll discuss to the advocate normal and search his opinion.”
Summing up the challenges raised by ride-hailing firms, the bench remarked that “a blanket prohibition is unconstitutional since bike taxis are a professional enterprise. Within the absence of rules, the enterprise can’t be handled as unlawful and ought to be allowed. The ban is due to this fact arbitrary, unreasonable, and violative of Articles 14 and 19(1)(g).”
“Let’s be clear. The federal government has been given a month. Allow them to provide you with the coverage. However as a substitute of ready patiently and following the rule of legislation, the aggregators have defied it. They’ve proven no respect for the legislation of the land or our courts. They’ve really acted in contempt of court docket,” stated Tanveer Pasha, president of the Ola Uber Drivers’ and House owners’ Affiliation in Karnataka, talking to News18.
Transport minister Ramalinga Reddy additionally informed News18 that whereas the federal government accepts the Excessive Court docket’s resolution giving one month to border a coverage, it has not explicitly permitted the resumption of companies. “We’ll place this earlier than the court docket. Any resolution on enforcement shall be taken after consultations with transport division officers. We’ll convey this to the discover of the court docket,” he stated.
Earlier than the ban, practically 1.20 lakh non-public bikes have been hooked up to completely different aggregators in Bengaluru, whereas throughout Karnataka, about six lakh individuals relied on bike taxis for his or her livelihoods. After the prohibition, the Bike Taxi Affiliation had written to chief minister Siddaramaiah and chief of the opposition within the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, saying over one lakh gig staff had misplaced their proper to earn a livelihood. They urged intervention to guard staff affected by the ban.
The Bike Taxi Welfare Affiliation has since welcomed the court docket’s observations, reiterating its dedication to working with the federal government to make sure secure, authorized and sustainable operations.
In the meantime, News18 reached out to Rapido for feedback on the resumption of companies, however the firm has not but responded.
Because the Excessive Court docket reminded, bike taxis are already a authorized type of transport in 13 states, and a scarcity of regulation can’t justify a blanket ban. “Each commerce is permissible except particularly prohibited. You could regulate, however regulation can’t imply full prohibition,” the bench burdened, declaring the contradiction in allowing automobiles and autos whereas barring bikes.
The advocate normal argued that bikes can’t be handled as “transport automobiles” below the Motor Autos Act, citing the Delhi instance the place the Supreme Court docket had held that such companies couldn’t run with no coverage. However the court docket pushed again, asking, “You say congestion is the rationale, however is there materials to point out that bike taxis trigger extra congestion than autos? Are you suggesting that autos congest much less?”
The bench concluded that Karnataka has “no coverage, solely prohibition”, warning that the state can’t indefinitely keep away from framing guidelines whereas successfully banning the sector.
Rohini Swamy, Affiliate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for practically 20 years within the tv and digital house. She covers south India for News18’s digital platform. She has beforehand labored with t…Learn Extra
Rohini Swamy, Affiliate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for practically 20 years within the tv and digital house. She covers south India for News18’s digital platform. She has beforehand labored with t… Learn Extra
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