In a major development for millions of daily commuters, the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday restrained the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of state road transport corporation trade unions from launching their statewide strike, which was scheduled to begin at 6:00 AM on Wednesday.
The interim order was passed by a vacation bench comprising Justice Suraj Govindaraj and Justice K Manmadha Rao. The court’s intervention comes in response to a petition highlighting the severe impact a mass transit shutdown would have on common citizens, particularly daily wage earners.
Court Steps In to Prevent Public Disruption
The petition against the strike was filed by C Vedavathi, a house help, and Sreedhara H V, a construction worker. Representing the petitioners, Senior Advocate Vikram Huilgol argued that the sudden suspension of state transport services would cause widespread inconvenience to countless travelers who rely on these buses daily.
In its oral observations, the bench urged the unions to stand down, noting that a wage increase had already been implemented. “Don’t go on strike, already 12.5 per cent hike has been given,” the court remarked.
In its written interim order, the bench stated: “R7 (Joint Action Committee) and its constituent unions are restrained from going on strike and acting on notice dated 29-04-2026.”
To resolve the impasse, the court granted the Additional Government Advocate (AGA) two days to seek instructions on scheduling a formal meeting between the JAC, the Transport Minister or Chief Minister, and the respective department secretaries.
Wage Dispute and Negotiation Deadlock
The planned strike is the culmination of a long-standing dispute over wage revisions. While the state government recently announced a 12.5 percent wage hike applicable from April following a protest earlier this year, the unions argue this is insufficient.
The JAC is demanding:
- A 25 percent wage hike, retroactive to January 1, 2024.
- The immediate settlement of all pending employee dues, including wages that were cut during the Covid-19 pandemic.
B Jayadevaraje Urs, secretary-general of the Akhila Karnataka State Road Transport Employees’ Federation, stated that workers had patiently waited for 28 months after receiving assurances from the government that their demands would be addressed.
Attempts to find a middle ground failed on Monday when a government-convened meeting between officials and various state-run transport corporations ended in a deadlock. Despite the stalemate, Advocate Clifton D Rozario, representing the Committee, emphasized that the workers remain open to dialogue.
“Our interest has to be protected and our demands are not astronomical,” Rozario said. “Let the Honourable Chief Minister hold a meeting with us and address our demands.”
Government Stands Firm, Invokes ESMA
State representatives maintained before the court that the government has already acted in good faith by granting the 12.5 percent raise and clearing all previous arrears.
In preparation for potential disruptions, the administration has taken a tough stance. Akram Pasha, Managing Director of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), confirmed that the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) has been invoked to ensure public services are not compromised. Pasha warned that any violation of the order or participation in the illegal strike would result in strict disciplinary and legal action.
The High Court is scheduled to resume hearing the petition on Thursday to assess the progress of the dispute resolution.
