The Karnataka government on Tuesday submitted in the Supreme Court that a State High Court decision to allow bike-taxis ignores the low safety standards of motorcycles, higher accident fatality rates, congestion and their limited utility as public transport vehicles. Karnataka, represented by advocate Sanchit Garga, said the restriction on the use of two-wheelers as taxis was reasonable, proportionate and in public interest. A Division Bench of the High Court, in January 2026, set aside a Single Bench order of April last year, which stopped bike-taxi services pending the framing of a policy by the State. Carriage permitThe High Court had further held that motorcycles fell within the category of ‘transport vehicles’. It had directed the State authorities to positively consider applications for grant of contract carriage permits for motorcycles.