The High Court of Karnataka on Monday restrained a federation of transport employees’ unions from proceeding with the proposed indefinite strike scheduled to commence from May 20, while advising the unions and the State authorities to continue to engage in talks for resolving the dispute.

Following this, later in the day, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) announced its decision to call off the strike. In a statement, it said it would continue dialogue with the government.

What court said

A Vacation Division Bench comprising Justice Suraj Govindaraj and Justice K. Manmadha Rao passed the interim order after hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by C. Vedavathi, a domestic help, and Sreedhara H.V., a construction worker, seeking urgent intervention against the strike call given by the Joint Action Committee of Trade Unions of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporations.

On the pleas made on behalf of some of the unions about the participation of the Transport Minister and the Chief Minister in talks for resolving the dispute, the Bench granted time to government counsel to obtain instructions regarding a possible meeting between representatives of the unions, the Transport Minister, the Chief Minister, and senior government officials, while adjourning further hearing till May 21.

The petition contended that the proposed strike would severely disrupt public life across the State, , affecting nearly 1.2 crore passengers who rely daily on services operated by KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC and KKRTC, including daily wage workers like the petitioners. The petition also highlighted that nearly 60% of commuters in public transport buses are women travelling under the State government’s free bus travel scheme.

The petitioners also argued that the strike would particularly affect students appearing for SSLC supplementary examinations scheduled between May 18 and May 25, as many students from rural and semi-urban areas depend on public transport to reach examination centres.

Referring to earlier litigations concerning transport strikes in 2023 and 2025, the petition stated that the High Court had previously intervened to prevent disruption of essential public services, while also pointing out that transport services were partially affected during previous strike calls, leading to issuance of nearly 17,200 show-cause notices to transport employees.

ESMA Act

The petition contended that strike is impermissible in view of the Karnataka Essential Services Maintenance Act, which bars strikes in State transport corporations, being in force from January 1 to June 30, 2026.

It has been stated in the petition that the State government had recently sanctioned a 12.5% wage revision for transport corporation employees with retrospective effect from April 1, 2025, besides approving releasing of ₹450 crore on April 29 as a portion of ₹1,271.92 crore towards payment of arrears of past 26 months, as was assured way back in February.