No More Rapido and Uber Bike Services in Delhi

The Delhi High Court’s suspension of Rapido and Uber’s city government notice was temporarily stayed by the Supreme Court. The high court allowed bike taxis to operate in the national capital without aggregator licenses until the final regulation was revealed.

The Supreme Court heard two Delhi government appeals against the high court ruling. The AAP-led government challenged the Delhi High Court’s May 26 judgment directing the government not to coerce bike-taxi aggregators until the final policy was published.

After Rapido’s petition, the high court notified the Delhi government on May 26. Rapido challenged a two-wheeler registration ban. While listing Rapido’s appeal for completion of pleading on August 22, the high court ordered no coercive action against the bike-taxi aggregator until the final policy was communicated. Rapido’s lawyer told the court the policy was being considered.

Rapido’s owner, Roppen Transportation Services Private Limited, petitioned the high court, arguing that the Delhi government’s order to immediately stop operating non-transport two-wheelers for hire-and-reward or commercial purposes was irrational.

Earlier this year, the government issued a public notice warning bike taxis not to operate in Delhi and warning aggregators of fines up to Rs 1 100,000. Rapido also challenged a city show-cause notice, arguing that it breaches constitutional and fundamental rights and contradicts natural justice.