Karnataka High Court Lifts Ban on Bike Taxis
The Karnataka High Court has lifted the ban on bike taxi services in the state. The ruling came on Friday, January 23, 2026, when a division bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Joshi allowed appeals from cab aggregators such as ANI Technologies (Ola), Uber, and Rapido. These companies were challenging a prior single-judge directive to halt bike taxi services until the State established regulations for such operations.
The bench set aside the April 2025 order from a single judge that had imposed the ban. The court held that motorcycles used for bike taxi services fall under the definition of “transport vehicles” according to the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Therefore, the government cannot deny permits based solely on the vehicle being a motorcycle.
Permit Applications and Regulations
Bike taxi operators can now apply for contract carriage permits to operate motorcycles as bike taxis. The State is permitted to impose conditions to regulate bike taxis, but cannot refuse permit applications simply because the vehicle is a motorcycle. The court has directed the government to consider applications for registration of motorcycles as transport vehicles and grant permits, in accordance with the law.
Background of the Ban
In June 2025, bike taxi operations by Ola, Uber, and Rapido were suspended following a High Court order to halt services. This led to the removal of bike taxi options from the ride-hailing apps. The single judge had ruled that unless the State Government establishes guidelines under Section 93 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, these companies could not function as aggregators for bike taxis.
Arguments Presented
The government had argued that it was a policy decision not to allow bike taxis, referencing the withdrawal of the Karnataka Electric Bike Taxi Scheme, 2021 in 2024. Conversely, the aggregators argued that the withdrawal was due to political reasons, citing law and order issues and a lack of protection for women commuters. A woman commuter stated that bike taxis are safer, more affordable, and convenient, especially for last-mile connectivity in Bengaluru.
Conclusion
The Karnataka High Court has lifted the ban on bike taxi services, allowing operators to apply for permits. The court has directed the state government to process permit applications for motorcycles as transport vehicles, paving the way for services by Rapido, Uber and Ola to resume under regulated conditions.
