Karnataka High Court Intervenes: Public Transport Strike Delayed

The Karnataka High Court has temporarily halted a strike planned by state-run transport unions, slated for Tuesday. The court ordered the unions to delay their protest until after the outcome of discussions with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, scheduled for August 5.

The court highlighted the potential hardship for the public if public transport operations are disrupted. Consequently, it granted an interim stay until tomorrow, August 5, to await the results of negotiations with the government.

During proceedings, the bench criticized the government's slow progress on revising wages for drivers and conductors, raising concerns over their welfare. Government counsel and the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) stated that a Joint Action Committee had called for a strike despite ongoing conciliation efforts. The committee demands a salary revision effective January 1, 2024, along with the payment of 38 months of arrears.

(With inputs from agencies.)