Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, May 19: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday temporarily restrained transport employees’ unions from proceeding with their proposed indefinite strike from May 20 and directed the state government to hold discussions with the unions to resolve the issue.
A vacation bench comprising Justices Suraj Govindaraj and K Manmatha Rao issued the interim order while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL).
The indefinite strike had been called by the joint action committee (JAC), which includes unions representing employees of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC).
The court stated in its order that “Respondent No. 7 (JAC) and its affiliated unions shall not proceed with the strike pursuant to the strike notice dated 29.04.2026.” It also directed the state government to fix a date for discussions with the unions that had announced the strike.
During the hearing, the additional advocate general informed the court that the government required two additional days to obtain instructions regarding a possible meeting between union representatives, the transport minister, and the chief minister. The submission was recorded by the court.
The matter has been posted for further hearing on May 21.
The PIL seeking to prevent the strike was filed by a domestic worker and a construction labourer, who argued that a bus strike would seriously affect their livelihood and daily travel needs.
The transport unions had warned that services operated by the four state-run transport corporations would be suspended from May 20 if their demands, including payment of pending salaries and wage revision, were not met.
The petitioners argued that the strike would severely inconvenience daily wage earners, patients, elderly persons, persons with disabilities, and economically weaker sections dependent on public transport services.
They also expressed concern that the strike would affect the ongoing SSLC supplementary examinations. The examinations, which began on May 18 and will continue till May 25, are expected to see students from rural and semi-urban areas relying heavily on KSRTC buses to reach their examination centres, the petition stated.
The court was informed that the state government had, in December last year, declared KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC as “public utility services” until June 30, under which strikes by such service organisations are prohibited during the notified period.
After hearing the preliminary arguments, the High Court granted an interim stay on the strike and instructed the state government to initiate talks with the transport unions by fixing an appropriate date for negotiations.
Senior advocate Vikram H appeared for the petitioners. Additional advocate general Taranath Poojary represented the state government and the transport department, while advocate H R Renuka appeared for KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC.
Advocates Lipton Rosario and Clifton Rosario represented the KSRTC Employees’ Trade Union Joint Action Committee before the High Court.