Ride-hailing platforms Rapido and Uber on Thursday relaunched bike taxi services in Bengaluru and other parts of Karnataka, a day after the state High Court gave the government one month to decide on framing a bike taxi policy.
The companies resumed operations, which had been suspended since June 16. A single-judge order had prohibited bike taxi services unless the government issued specific rules and guidelines for the operation of two wheelers, as contract carriages, under the Motor Vehicles Act.
‘Legitimate business’
Rapido, Uber and Ola had challenged the ban arguing it violates constitutional rights. On Wednesday, a division bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C M Joshi noted that bike taxis are a “legitimate business” and a blanket prohibition was “unconstitutional,” calling the ban “arbitrary, unreasonable, and violative of Articles 14 and 19(1)(g).”
The court made it clear that if the government decides against framing a policy, it must provide proper justification with supporting data.
The court had cautioned the state while hearing appeals by the platforms: “In no case, when a decision is being taken, should the state put everything into freeze. The police may continue to take action for other offences, but keep in mind this petition is pending.” However, the court did not issue any interim order explicitly allowing such operations to resume.
The next hearing on the matter is set for September 22.