Karnataka govt moves Supreme Court against high court order on bike-taxis, cites women and child safety concerns

BENGALURU: The Karnataka government has moved Supreme Court challenging the high court’s January verdict that lifted the ban on bike-taxi operations in the state.The appeal has been filed against the ruling in favour of cab aggregators offering bike-taxi services in Karnataka. The matter is yet to be listed for hearing before the apex court.In its January ruling, the high court held that a blanket ban on bike taxis was not legally sustainable. It directed the transport department to permit such services by classifying two-wheelers as transport vehicles and issuing contract carriage permits.A transport department source said the state government authorised the appeal in the Supreme Court, contending that two-wheelers cannot be treated as transport vehicles under the Motor Vehicles Act.The government has also cited safety concerns involving women, children and pillion riders, which it plans to place before the apex court during the hearing.Following the high court order, autorickshaw unions had urged the state government to challenge the verdict and seek a ban on bike-taxi services.(With agency inputs)