Karnataka High Court Directs Road Transport Corporation Unions Seeking Pay Revision To Defer Strike

The Karnataka High Court on Monday (August 4) directed the Joint Action Committee of Road Transport Corporation Workers' Unions to put on hold its proposed strike over pay revision demand, till Tuesday (tomorrow).

The strike was announced to commence from the morning of Tuesday (August 5).

A division bench of Justice K S Mudgal and Justice M G S Kamal issued notice to the state government, corporations and other respondents and passed the interim order in the petition filed by residents of the State.

The Government advocate submitted to the court that a meeting with the Chief Minister and Transport department is ongoing in regards to the demands for pay revisions in concerned. 

“Therefore it will be appropriate to grant interim stay till tomorrow, so that the outcome of talks which are said to be going on between the employees and government will also be revealed. Respondent no 7 is directed to put on hold the proposed strike till tomorrow," said the Court.

The petitioner's counsel contended that they (Committee of six Union's) had announced the strike and wrote to the Chief Minister on 15-07-2025. They also sent a copy to Managing Directors of the respective transport corporations.

Further it was said that despite the issuance of a prohibitory notification by the State Government under the Karnataka Essential Services Maintenance Act, 2013, and subsequent publication of the same in leading newspapers dated 03.08.2025 (Sunday), the Respondent Unions have unequivocally confirmed their intent to proceed with the strike.

The counsel for the corporations informed the court about the earlier strike which was held in 2020, during covid period and the order of the High court, directing the Union's to resume work.

The counsel also submitted that Conciliation proceedings before the labour court were on and the next scheduled date is August 7. It was claimed that if the workers are demanding pay revision from the year 2020 and if allowed there will be a burden of Rs 2,000 crore.

To which the bench orally remarked, “You are giving free passenger service and you do not want to pay the employees. Can somebody stall their right to go on strike in a Public interest litigation? Prima facie you have not paid them their dues, and they have issued notice under Section 22 Industrial Disputes Act. They are not calling for a strike all of a sudden, they have given a notice.”

The bench taking into consideration the order passed earlier by the court in 2020, passed the interim order and said the matter would be posted before the regular bench tomorrow.