The Karnataka High Court has declined to stay a single judge’s order that prohibits the operation of bike taxis in the state unless proper guidelines are framed by the government under the Motor Vehicles Act. This development came after ANI Technologies, which runs OLA, and Uber India Systems Private Limited, challenged the earlier ruling.
On Friday, a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice V. Kameshwar Rao and Justice Sreenivas Harish Kumar issued notice to the State government and other respondents. The court stated, Issue notice to respondents returnable on June 24. It is made clear that appeal will be heard on the next date and no adjournments will not be sought.
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However, the bench turned down the appellants’ request to continue the interim protection and prevent the authorities from taking action until the appeals are heard. The court observed that it would have considered interim relief if the State had expressed an intent to frame the necessary rules.
“If they were framing rules we could have permitted it but they are not,” the court said, further noting, “If their stand was that we are taking time to frame rules we will come with the rules, they say as a policy decision we have decided not to frame rules, if first one was possible, we could have said that you are framing rules, the delay is attributable to you and they should not suffer, we could have possibly injuncted them. But not in this scenario where they say we have taken a policy decision not to frame rules.”
Earlier, the single judge had directed the Karnataka government to ensure that all bike taxi operations in the state cease within six weeks. This period was extended until June 15, making it likely that all such services will halt from June 16.
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During the hearing, Senior Advocate Dhyan Chinnappa, representing the petitioners, argued that the single judge had acknowledged the legal use of two-wheelers as transport vehicles. However, Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty responded, “No doubt about that but it has to be under a policy.”
Counsel for Uber referred to central rules to support the operation of bike taxis, pointing out that the State had not framed any specific rules to regulate such services. Yet, when the court inquired whether the services could continue until rules are framed, AG Shetty replied that the operation of bike taxis cannot be allowed without proper regulations.
The petitioners—Uber India Systems Private Limited, ANI Technologies Private Limited, Roppen Transportation Services Pvt Ltd, and another—had initially approached the High Court in 2022. They sought permission from the government to allow motorcycles to be registered as transport vehicles and to permit the aggregation of motorcycle taxi services. Based on an interim order passed that year, the authorities were directed not to take coercive action against the petitioners.
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However, on April 2 this year, the single judge dismissed the petitions. The court relied on a 2019 expert committee report which assessed the traffic and safety impact of bike taxis. It also directed the State to frame appropriate rules and guidelines within three months.
The matter is now under appeal with the case registered as ANI Technologies Private Limited AND State of
Case Title: ANI Technologies Private Limited AND State of Karnataka & Others
Case No: WA 906/2025 c/w WA 848/2025.
