In a landmark ruling on 23 January 2026, the Karnataka High Court lifted the long-standing ban on bike taxi services in the state, paving the way for aggregators such as Ola, Uber and Rapido to resume operations under clearly defined legal conditions.
A division bench headed by Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C.M. Joshi set aside a 2025 single-judge order that had enforced the ban until statutory rules were put in place.
The bench held that two-wheelers can be registered as transport vehicles if operators secure licences and permits as per law, and directed the state government to accept and process applications accordingly. The judgment offers relief to thousands of riders and daily commuters while underscoring the need for regulation rather than prohibition.
Court Clears Regulated Bike Taxis
The division bench’s verdict emphasised that transport policy must be anchored in law and regulatory clarity, not outright prohibition. The court quashed the earlier order by a single judge that had halted bike taxi services statewide, stating businesses and bike owners must now seek permissions to operate under existing provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act.
Under the new directive, bikes may be categorised as transport vehicles on securing the appropriate licences a process the court said the government must implement rather than obstruct.
This development has been welcomed by mobility platforms and stakeholders hit hard by last year’s ban. Aggregators argue that the judgment brings back legal certainty and the possibility of restoring affordable and flexible last-mile travel. While the state government has yet to issue a formal statement, legal experts say the ruling shifts the focus to how regulators will now frame operational rules and conditions for bike taxis.
Urban commuters, especially in cities like Bengaluru and Mysuru, have also reacted positively, seeing the reinstatement of bike taxis as a potential relief from crowded buses, expensive rideshare fares and poor last-mile transit options. Many daily travellers, students and office-goers had expressed frustration following the ban’s enforcement in mid-2025.
Legal Ambiguity Sparks Rider Uncertainty
The bike taxi saga in Karnataka has been contentious for nearly two years, shaped by legal challenges, administrative actions and public discontent.
The controversy began in April 2025, when a single-judge bench of the High Court directed aggregators to suspend bike taxi operations within six weeks, arguing that the state lacked specific guidelines under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 to govern these services.
At that time, the court also barred the transport department from registering motorcycles as transport vehicles or issuing them permits until clear rules were drafted.
Complying with the order, major ride-hailing apps removed bike taxi options from their platforms by June 2025, leading to an abrupt halt in services. The transportation minister confirmed compliance, pointing to legal necessity.
The ban’s immediate impact was widely felt across urban and peri-urban areas. Thousands of riders found themselves suddenly without income, triggering protests and public outcry.
In June 2025, over 5,000 bike taxi riders rallied at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, demanding that the government lift the ban and establish a fair regulatory framework. Many expressed that the ban had devastating effects on their families’ livelihoods, while commuters complained of rising transport costs and limited mobility options.
Earlier judicial hearings saw the High Court questioning whether complete prohibition was the right approach, noting that so long as a service is permitted under law, it should be regulated, not barred. Judges pointed out that bans affecting legitimate trade required careful scrutiny and that safety or regulatory concerns should ideally be addressed through policy rather than blanket restrictions.
Intermittent attempts to resume bike taxi services through judicial clarifications and administrative actions added to the uncertainty. On a few occasions, services briefly restarted amid conflicting instructions from the court and the state transport department, only to be suspended again after clarifications that no judicial permission had been formally granted
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The Karnataka High Court’s latest ruling rightly shifts the narrative from prohibition to regulation, reflecting a balanced approach that recognises legal rights, economic realities and public utility. Outright bans even if well-intentioned risk harming livelihoods and reducing commuter choice without necessarily enhancing safety or order. Instead, The Logical Indian believes that robust, transparent and inclusive policy frameworks are essential for integrating new mobility models into urban transport ecosystems.
The judgment underscores that the rule of law must guide transport policy, and that rights to occupation and trade cannot be curtailed without proportional justification. More importantly, regulatory clarity provides certainty for millions of commuters and gig workers people whose daily lives, income and mobility depend on accessible transport options. As Karnataka moves towards implementing formal regulations, it must ensure these rules are fair, comprehensible and oriented to public safety and social welfare.
