KSRTC Strike on August 5 Stayed by Karnataka High Court, Bus Services Likely to Operate Normally

In a major relief to commuters, the Karnataka High Court has issued an interim stay on the strike announced by Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) employees scheduled for August 5. This decision raises the likelihood that bus services across the state will operate as usual on Monday.

The JAC had announced the indefinite strike starting August 5, citing multiple long-standing demands, including a 25% pay hike effective from January 1, 2024, settlement of pending salary arrears for 38 months (from January 1, 2020 to February 28, 2023), and implementation of a four-year wage revision (January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2027).

High Court's Interim Order

The stay order was issued after Bengaluru resident J. Sunil and others filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the strike. During the hearing, the High Court directed the transport employees to call off the strike for at least one day, citing concerns over the disruption it could cause to the public. The court expressed apprehension that the strike could significantly impact daily life and has adjourned the matter to August 5 for further hearing.

The petition argued that the statewide strike could paralyze public life and violate the fundamental rights of citizens. Taking this argument seriously, the court directed the transport workers to suspend the strike temporarily.

Background of the Strike

KSRTC employees had planned to go on strike from August 5 to demand a salary hike, payment of pending dues, and fulfillment of other employment-related demands. Despite several rounds of negotiations with the state government, no agreement was reached. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had attempted to mediate and resolve the issue, but union leaders refused to withdraw the strike. After talks failed, the union representatives had firmly declared, "We will go on strike."

However, the JAC is yet to respond to the court's order.

Strike Could Have Severely Disrupted Transport Across Karnataka

Had the strike gone ahead, public transport services across the state-especially in rural areas-would have been severely affected. KSRTC buses are a lifeline for thousands of students, employees, and daily commuters.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah chaired a nearly three-hour-long negotiation meeting on Monday with Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, Federation President HV Anantha Subbarao, and JAC representatives. But the talks ended in a deadlock.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Anantha Subbarao said, "The CM was non-committal on the 25% wage hike. On the issue of salary arrears, he agreed to clear only 14 months out of the 38. As no breakthrough was achieved, we are going ahead with the strike."

Responding to whether private buses would be deployed to mitigate the strike's impact, Subbarao remarked, "Let the government operate private buses or tempos. Our RTC employees will stay home and not report to work."

On the government invoking the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), and past disciplinary action during the 2020 strike, Subbarao asserted, "We have officially served the strike notice. Our employees will not bow to threats. Any victimisation will be strongly resisted."

Some union leaders have hinted that if an agreement is reached between the government and employees, there may be no need for a strike.