Karnataka High Court extends interim order halting transport unions from going on strike

Bengaluru: The high court of Karnataka on Thursday extended the interim order restraining transport corporation employees from proceeding with their proposed strike.

A vacation division bench comprising Justices Suraj Govindaraj and K Manmadha Rao further said that the court would consider the progress of the ongoing conciliation meeting between the employees and the authorities on the next date of hearing, June 2.

At the hearing, the bench was informed that the next conciliation proceedings are scheduled to be held on May 25.

Meanwhile, the counsel representing the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Trade Unions of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation Employees submitted that if the directors of the transport corporations are participating in the conciliation proceedings, the members of JAC would also take part in those proceedings.

The bench was hearing the PIL filed by C Vedavathi and HV Sreedhara, both residents of Bengaluru, contending that the proposed strike is in direct contravention of section 22(1)(d) of the Industrial Disputes Act, which prohibits a strike during the pendency of conciliation proceedings.

The petitioners claimed that the conciliation proceedings initiated by the Labour Commissioner's July 18, 2025, notice are pending.