Overview

• A bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Neela Gokhale refused to entertain a petition by four Thane auto-rickshaw drivers who alleged that app-based bike taxis operating with private-vehicle plates threatened their livelihoods.
• The court held that bike-taxi services do not infringe on auto-rickshaw drivers’ fundamental right to livelihood and chastised traditional operators for refusing passengers.
• The bench granted the petitioners liberty to submit representations to the state government regarding any alleged illegal bike-taxi operations.
• The Maharashtra Bike-Taxi Rules, 2025, notified on July 4, formalize electric bike-taxi operations statewide and mandate that aggregators obtain valid licenses.
• Additional Government Pleader Prachi Tatke reported that RTOs are taking action against unlicensed bike taxis and that companies including Rapido and Uber have applied for licences.