‘Bike taxis a necessity, not a luxury’: Karnataka HC slams bike taxi ban, says it’s legally untenable
The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday strongly criticised the state government's ban on bike taxis, calling its rationale "thin" and "legally untenable".
Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru, leading the bench, remarked that bike taxis were not a luxury but a necessity, especially for affordable last-mile transport in cities.
The court noted that bike taxis are operational in at least 13 other Indian states and recognised as a legal and vital form of urban mobility. Rejecting the state’s claim that the Motor Vehicles Act bars bike taxis, according to news agency PTI, the court observed, “Lack of regulation cannot justify a blanket ban that deprives people of their right to livelihood under Article 19(1)(g).”
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