In the latest ruling, the Karnataka High Court passed an order to the State Government to safeguard the operations of bike taxis in Bangalore.

The court instructed the state government to enforce actions against any individual or entity found to be illegally causing disturbance to bike taxi riders impeding them from carrying out their service.

"The Writ Petition stands disposed of, directing the respondent (State of Karnataka) to take appropriate action against any person in the event they unlawfully obstruct the petitioners from operating the services of bike taxi," the order said dated March of 28th.

One of the petitioners, the Bike Taxi Welfare Association, claimed that the action will bolster their guard against harassment, physical assault, vehicle damage, and obstruction that bike taxi riders in Bangalore City encounter from specific auto unions and their members.

A case was filed by the association under Articles 226 and 227 of the Indian Constitution, seeking from illegal interference with its operations, represented by Senior Counsel Sri.K.N. Phanindra.

Respondents in this case include the State of Karnataka, the Transport Department, Facebook India Online Services, Meta Platforms, and the Bike Taxi Welfare Association, among other legal members. The directive was issued by Judge Hemant Chandangoudar.

The order was passed over a span of two years after the transport authorities commanded to halt any ‘coercive action’ against the bike taxi service by a single-judge bench of the Karnataka High Court.

Justice Hemant Chandangoudar directed the government to "take appropriate action against any person in the event they unlawfully obstruct the petitioners from operating the services of bike taxis."

"This decision reaffirms the importance of upholding the rights of bike taxi operators and fostering a supportive environment for their services. The Bike Taxi Association extends its gratitude to the judiciary for its intervention and reaffirms its commitment to advocating for the welfare of its members," the Association added.

The ride-hailing platform Rapido stated shortly after the state government announced the cancellation of its electric bike taxi plan last month that the plan, which was announced in 2021 and withdrawn in 2024, only concerned the issuance of licenses for the operation of electric bike taxis and had no bearing on Rapido's own bike taxi business. An interim High Court decision prohibiting the State Government from using coercion against the aggregator safeguards its activities.

One of the main requests of the auto unions was a ban on bike taxis, which prompted the petition in response to reports of altercations between auto drivers and bike taxi operators.