The Court order, dated March 28, came in response to petitions filed by the Bike Taxi Welfare Association.
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."
The petition followed reports of clashes between auto drivers and bike taxi operators, and a ban on bike taxis was one of the major demands of the auto unions.
Hailing the HC order, the Association, in a statement, called the order a significant legal victory in its fight against harassment, physical violence, vehicle damage, and obstruction faced by bike taxi riders from certain auto unions and their members in Bangalore.
"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.
Soon after the state government notified rollback of its electric bike taxi scheme last month, ride-hailing platform Rapido had said the scheme notified in 2021 and withdrawn in 2024 only pertained to grant of license for operating electric bike taxis, and would not affect its own operations of bike taxis. Its operations are protected by an interim order of the High Court directing the State Government not to take any coercive steps against the aggregator.
"It is worth mentioning that the recent notification issued by the government nowhere mentions banning Rapido or any other aggregator operating under the protection of the High Court order," Rapido had said in its statement.
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