Aarohi Girish Dhumale
On 2nd April, 2025, the Karnataka High Court ordered bike aggregators, including Rapido bike taxis, to cease their operations within six weeks window. This case was heard by Justice B.M. Shyam Prasad.
The order mandates that companies like Rapido, Uber and Ola must suspend their bike taxi platforms until the Karnataka State Government formulates and notifies comprehensive guidelines under Section 3 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and establishes the necessary regulatory rules.
Justice Prasad stated that the Court cannot instruct the state to formulate regulations nor can it mandate the registration of non-transport vehicles as transport vehicles.
“The Transport Department cannot be directed to register motorcycles as transport vehicles or issue contract carriage permits for such services until appropriate government regulations are in place,” he said.
The petitioners had also requested the authorities to establish a legal framework for bike taxis. Rapido, on the other hand, sought orders to prevent government authorities from interfering with its operations.
The Court ruled that bike taxi aggregators cannot operate in the state unless the government issues the relevant guidelines under Section 3 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, along with the necessary rules.
In April 2022, a bench led by Justice Jyoti Mulimani had granted interim relief to the bike taxi aggregators, instructing the authorities not to take any coercive action against them.
This interim relief had allowed the continued operation of bike taxis.
Case Name: Ropeen Transportation Services Pvt. Ltd And State of Karnataka & Ors
Case Number: W. P. No. 6421 of 2022
Bench: Justice B.M. Shyam Prasad
Click here to access the order dated 02.04.2025
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