Summary:
The Supreme Court of Nepal has issued an interim order allowing Gandaki Province to continue implementing its "Ride-Hailing (Regulation Management) Rules 2025," despite protests and legal disputes. The court rejected calls to suspend the regulation amid nationwide transport unrest caused by opposition from transport entrepreneurs.

Key points:

• The regulation was introduced by Gandaki Province on May 15, 2025, to bring app-based ride services under legal oversight, ensure safety standards, and allow private vehicles to operate commercially under specific conditions.
• Transport entrepreneurs opposed the regulation, arguing it contradicts the federal Motor Vehicle Transport Management Act, especially Section 8(2), which restricts commercial use of private vehicles.
• In protest, public transport operators staged strikes across major cities, causing severe disruption.
• The Supreme Court ruled the regulation serves public interest and should not be suspended.
• The court directed federal authorities not to interfere in provincial matters and urged stakeholders not to obstruct essential services.
• The decision followed a writ petition claiming unlawful federal interference and disruption of services.
• The ruling supports provincial jurisdiction over transport regulation and aims to modernize Nepal’s transport sector, challenging the entrenched transport syndicate system.

Overall, the court's order reinforces Gandaki Province's authority to regulate ride-hailing services and discourages federal interference during the ongoing disputes.

Archive: https://archive.md/XwCa3