Madurai: The Madras High Court has sought a response from the Tamil Nadu government regarding a plea that demands the enactment and enforcement of a comprehensive regulatory framework for aggregators offering bike taxi services in the state.
Court Observations on Aggregator Status
A division bench comprising Justice N Sathish Kumar and Justice M Jothiraman noted that the status report filed by the state transport commissioner reveals a lack of clarity about the status of aggregators until the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, was introduced to regulate them. The judges acknowledged that a proposal has been submitted to form an expert committee tasked with providing suggestions and drafting comprehensive rules and regulations. These rules would ensure aggregators are accountable for their operations and establish specific guidelines for regulation.
Directive to Transport Department
The bench directed the principal secretary of the Tamil Nadu transport department and the state transport commissioner to file a detailed report on the progress made pursuant to the proposal and the timeline for finalizing the regulatory framework.
Background of the Petition
The court passed the order while hearing a public interest litigation filed by R Naveen Kumar of Madurai. The petitioner argued that app-based bike taxi services have become an integral part of Tamil Nadu's transport ecosystem, providing essential last-mile connectivity and serving as a primary livelihood source. However, a critical regulatory vacuum exists due to the state government's failure to notify a specific scheme for non-transport motorcycles used for passenger aggregation.
Key Issues Raised
The petitioner highlighted two major problems arising from this regulatory vacuum:
- Absence of safety standards and accountability: This poses a threat to public safety.
- Lack of a state mechanism for obtaining permits for two-wheelers: This adversely affects the livelihoods of riders.
The petitioner emphasized that the state government is empowered and duty-bound under Section 67(3) and Section 93 of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, and the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, to regulate such services.
Petitioner's Demands
Naveen Kumar sought a direction to the state to take necessary steps permitting the registration of motorcycles as transport vehicles and grant appropriate permits for their lawful operation under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, and the associated rules.
