Bombay High Court Sides with Bike Taxis Over Mumbai's "Cartel-Like" Auto-Rickshaws

On August 4, 2025, the Bombay High Court delivered a significant ruling in favor of app-based bike taxi services in Mumbai, rejecting a petition filed by four auto-rickshaw drivers seeking to curb their operations.

The court, comprising Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale, strongly criticized the city's traditional auto-rickshaw and taxi services, describing them as operating like a "cartel." The judges observed that the public often prefers bike taxis over these conventional modes of transport, especially during the monsoon season when auto-rickshaw drivers are known to refuse passengers or demand exorbitant fares.

The court's stance comes just a month after the Maharashtra government notified the Maharashtra Bike-Taxi Rules, 2025 on July 4, paving the way for the regulated operation of app-based bike taxis in the state. The new rules subject these services to licensing, safety, and operational compliance requirements.

While the auto-rickshaw drivers claimed they were merely seeking enforcement of the rules against unlicensed bike taxis, the court was unpersuaded. The judges pointed out the irony in the petitioners' argument, noting the widespread complaints about the "high-handedness" and poor treatment of customers by traditional taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers, which has led to the rise of alternative services like Ola and Uber.

Ultimately, with the court indicating it would dismiss the petition, the auto-rickshaw drivers chose to withdraw their case, marking a significant victory for the bike taxi industry in Mumbai.