The Madras High Court has sought a response from the Tamil Nadu government on a plea seeking the enactment of a comprehensive regulatory framework for aggregators offering bike taxi services in the state.
Court's Observations
A division bench of Justice N Sathish Kumar and Justice M Jothiraman noted that the status report filed by the state transport commissioner indicated a lack of clarity regarding the status of aggregators until the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 was enacted. The judges acknowledged that a proposal has been sent to constitute an expert committee to suggest and frame comprehensive rules, making aggregators accountable for their operations.
Directions Issued
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 of the proposal and the timeline for finalizing the regulatory framework.
Petitioner's Arguments
The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by R Naveen Kumar of Madurai. He argued that app-based bike taxi services have become integral to the transport ecosystem, providing last-mile connectivity and livelihoods. However, a regulatory vacuum exists due to the state's failure to notify a scheme for non-transport motorcycles used for passenger aggregation.
The petitioner highlighted two major issues: the absence of safety standards and accountability threatening public safety, and the lack of a state mechanism to obtain permits for two-wheelers, affecting riders' livelihoods. He emphasized that the state is empowered 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.
The petitioner sought directions for the state to permit registration of motorcycles as transport vehicles and grant appropriate permits for lawful operation under the Act and Rules.
