Politics · India · 6 hrs ago
Karnataka asks Supreme Court to uphold restrictions on bike-taxis
Karnataka is challenging a court decision that allows bike-taxis in the Supreme Court.
Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta is representing the Congress-led state government in the appeal.
The state says carrying passengers on motorcycles should remain restricted, citing safety concerns, traffic congestion and their limited use as public transport.
It argues the restriction is reasonable and in the public interest, but says motorcycle owners can still use their vehicles for other commercial work.
The dispute follows conflicting High Court rulings: a single judge stopped bike-taxi services in April 2025, while a division bench overturned that order in January 2026.
The division bench said aggregators and motorcycle owners had a right to seek permits under the Motor Vehicles Act.
The Supreme Court will consider Karnataka’s appeal, but no decision or hearing date is stated.
Karnataka has asked the Supreme Court to uphold its restriction on carrying passengers on motorcycles as taxis.
The State says the restriction is reasonable, proportionate and in the public interest.
It argues that motorcycles have low safety standards, higher accident fatality rates, contribute to congestion and have limited use as public transport.
Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta is appearing for the State in its appeal against a Karnataka High Court decision allowing bike-taxis.
The State says motorcycle riders still have other livelihood options, including protections under a 2025 law for platform-based gig workers.
- Who
- The Karnataka government, represented by Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta, is appealing.
- What
- The State has asked the Supreme Court to uphold restrictions on carrying passengers on motorcycles as taxis.
- When
- The report was published on October 26, 2026. The High Court Division Bench ruled in January 2026.
- Where
- The case is before the Supreme Court; the High Court ruling was in Karnataka.
- Why
- Karnataka says the restriction is reasonable and serves the public interest, citing safety, accident fatalities, congestion and the limited utility of motorcycles as public transport.
Karnataka government
Karnataka High Court Division Bench
Permits for bike-taxis
Karnataka government
The State argues that the High Court decision ignored safety risks, congestion and the limited utility of motorcycles as public transport.
Karnataka High Court Division Bench
The Division Bench concluded that aggregators and individual motorcycle owners had a crystallised right to obtain permits for motorcycles as taxis under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
A Karnataka High Court Single Bench stopped bike-taxi services pending the framing of a State policy.
A High Court Division Bench set aside the Single Bench order and said motorcycle owners and taxi aggregators had a crystallised right to seek permits.
The Hindu reported that Karnataka had appealed to the Supreme Court against the High Court decision.
- Solicitor-General
- Tushar Mehta is appearing for Karnataka.
- State appeal
- Filed through panel counsel Sanchit Garga.
- High Court Division Bench ruling
- January 2026.
- Gig-worker law
- Karnataka Platform-Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Act, 2025.
- Restriction
- Applies to using motorcycles to carry passengers, according to the State.
What people are saying
The State has not imposed a blanket prohibition on the use of motorcycles for commercial purposes; rather, it has only restricted their use for carrying passengers.
crystallised right to obtain permits for operating motorcycles as taxis under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988