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New Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Political reasons behind e-taxi ban: Association tells Karnataka HC
BENGALURU: Withdrawal of the 'e-bike taxi scheme' in 2014 was not a study-based decision, but one that was taken because of 'political reasons' citing the law and order situation, argued the Bike Taxi Welfare Association before the Karnataka High Court on Wednesday. The association stated that livelihoods of around 6 lakh families, out of 6.5 lakh riders, across the state would be affected because of the state's decision not to allow the registration of two-wheelers as taxis. The Association counsel made the submission before the division bench of acting Chief Justice V Kameswar Rao and Justice CM Joshi during the hearing of the appeals filed by the Association, taxi aggregators such as Ola, Uber, Rapido and also a few owners of two-wheelers. The appeals were filed against a single-judge order on April 2, which held that taxi aggregators cannot offer bike taxis on their platforms unless the state government notifies relevant guidelines under Section 93 of the Motor Vehicles Act. The Association counsel alleged that the withdrawal of the 'e-taxi scheme' in 2014 was for political reasons because of continuous confrontations between drivers of autorickshaws, maxi cabs and bikes taxi riders. It was also reasoned that bike taxis did not provide protection to women. Instead of stopping bike taxis, the state government should have taken remedial measures if a law and order situation arose. Not registering two-wheelers as taxis under the Motor Vehicles Act and Karnataka Motor Vehicle Rules is a violation of fundamental rights, the counsel argued. The case was adjourned to July 2.
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Bike taxis are not luxury but necessity to ease traffic congestion, operators tell Karnataka high court
Bengaluru: The Bike Taxi Welfare Association argued on Wednesday that bike taxis are not a luxury, but a necessity in easing traffic congestion. The state govt's decision to ban the services affected 6.5 lakh bike taxis and 6 lakh dependent families. Senior advocate Shashank Garg, appearing on behalf of the association, submitted that the drivers had taken loans and there are no alternative employment opportunities. They put hard-earned money into buying vehicles. He suggested some interim arrangement could be made to enable the vehicles to ply by imposing conditions for the safety of drivers and passengers. Dwelling upon the ban, Garg submitted that there is a complete policy vacuum and pointed out that the E-bike rules of 2021 completely debunk the expert committee report of 2019, relied on by the state govt to ban bike taxis, as the E-taxi policy clearly spells out last-mile connectivity. He added the expert committee only considered and confined itself to Bengaluru city before making their recommendation for imposing a ban. He further claimed the ban was imposed more to benefit the autorickshaw drivers and termed it a political issue. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Earlier, senior advocate Dhyan Chinnappa, appearing for a couple of motorcycle owners, continued his arguments. Referring to the ban, he submitted that the state govt cannot do it by an executive action. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top 5 Dividend Stocks for May 2025 Seeking Alpha Read More Undo An executive action cannot supplant; it can only supplement. A transport vehicle with a contract carriage permit entitles it to be used as a taxi. The state created a scenario of impossibility. The state is duty-bound to give registration and permit. It was that day the state created a scenario contrary to judgements of the SC and the division bench of this court, Dhyan Chinnappa further added. "The state cannot complain that bike taxis are causing difficulties in Karnataka. We have traffic in this city because people from all over come here and stay. Population growth is an indicator of a growing economy," he further submitted. Meanwhile, a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice V Kameshwar Rao and CM Joshi adjourned the hearing to next Wednesday, i.e., July 2. Uber India Systems, ANI Technologies Private Ltd, and Roppen Transportation Services Pvt Ltd (all aggregators), along with others, have challenged the single bench's order. On April 2, 2025, a single bench disposed of their petitions, referring to an expert committee report of 2019, which considered the impact of bike taxis on traffic and safety. "Unless the state govt notifies relevant guidelines under Section 93 of Motor Vehicles Act and the rules framed thereunder, the petitioners cannot operate bike taxi services, and no directions can be issued to the state govt to consider their applications seeking the grant of aggregator permits/licences," the single bench said in its order. It is always open to the state govt to take measures, i.e., framing guidelines in relation to bike taxi services, the order further stated, while granting six weeks' time to cease operations. The said period was further extended until June 15 by another order.
India Today
a day ago
- Politics
- India Today
Bike taxi riders plead to Karnataka Transport Minister to revoke service ban
The Bike Taxi Welfare Association made another emotional appeal to the Karnataka government, urging it not to continue with the ban on bike taxis. In a letter addressed to Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, the association pleaded for resuming the services, highlighting the livelihood of thousands of riders who depend on them for survival.'We fold our hands and plead, please save our livelihoods,' the letter read. The association emphasised that bike taxi riders play an essential role in urban mobility, stating, 'We take people to hospitals, schools, and homes, whether it's raining or scorching hot.' They added that many riders earn between Rs 30,000 and Rs 35,000 per month, enabling them to support their letter noted that a majority of those working as bike taxi riders and delivery personnel for companies such as Swiggy and Zepto in Bengaluru are degree holders. It argued that these services have become a crucial support system for the unemployed and underemployed, particularly in urban centres. Riders said that the ban has devastated the lives of more than six lakh individuals in Karnataka who depended on bike taxis for income. Many families are now grappling with poverty, unable to afford groceries, pay rent or keep children in ban came into effect in the wake of a recent Karnataka High Court verdict that upheld an earlier government order declaring the operations of bike taxi platforms like Rapido, Ola, and Uber Moto illegal, citing the lack of a clear regulatory framework. The Karnataka government enforced the ban starting June 16, following the High Court order. advertisementOn the day the ban came into effect and a crackdown began, the Namma Bike Taxi Association wrote to Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, emphasising the livelihood crisis for over one lakh June 25, over 5,000 bike taxi riders from across Karnataka rode in protest to Bengaluru's Vidhana Soudha. A delegation from the Namma Bike Taxi Association submitted a petition to Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao again, reiterating their demands. The association has also written to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking intervention to prevent what they described as a ban on the only means of income for many riders. They warned that halting bike taxi and e-commerce services would leave thousands of young professionals, including graduates in civil, mechanical, and software engineering, without employment.- Ends IN THIS STORY#Karnataka#Bengaluru
