After SC order, Karnataka preparing to seek vacation of HC stay on acting against bike taxis

The case is expected to come up before next week.

The government’s moves, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy told ET, are guided by the Monday’s order of the Supreme Court. “We will seek a vacation of stay that has paved the way for the operation of non-EV bike taxis,” he said.

The southern state has allowed use of electric two-wheelers as bike taxis by notifying the Karnataka Electricity Bike Taxi (KEBT) scheme, two years ago. The government, however, has ruled out framing a policy allowing operation of non-EV bike taxis.

Rapido, a Bengaluru-based startup backed by Westbridge Capital and Nexus Venture Partners, has been offering app-based bike taxi services in Bengaluru since 2016.

A single judge of the Karnataka High Court had, on August 11, 2021, directed the transport authorities not to take any “coercive action” against Rapido’s bike taxi service. This helped the company offer its services in Bengaluru in the absence of regulations by the government.

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Senior transport officials in Bengaluru had discussions with the law authorities on Tuesday on swiftly moving to get the stay vacated.The apex court had, on Monday, set aside a Delhi High Court order, restoring the Delhi government’s ban on operation of bike taxis till the government comes up with regulations. The High Court had directed the Delhi government not to take any coercive action on bike taxis operated by Uber and Rapido till a policy framework was put in place.

A query to Rapido had not been answered as of press time.

A few states including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Goa have allowed bike taxis.