The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday issued an interim order restraining transport unions from proceeding with their planned strike scheduled for tomorrow. The court directed the state government to hold a meeting between the representatives of the unions and the Transport Minister or the Chief Minister to resolve the ongoing dispute.
Court Intervention
A division bench of the High Court passed the order while hearing a petition filed by the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) seeking to prevent the strike. The court observed that any disruption in public transport services would cause immense inconvenience to the public, especially students and office-goers.
The bench also noted that the unions had not followed the mandatory procedure of giving a 14-day notice before going on strike as per the Industrial Disputes Act. The court directed the unions to maintain status quo and not to resort to any strike or agitation until further orders.
Government's Assurance
Advocate General appearing for the state government assured the court that the authorities would arrange a meeting between the union leaders and the Transport Minister or the Chief Minister within two days to discuss the demands of the employees. The court directed the government to ensure that the meeting takes place and a progress report be submitted before the next hearing.
The unions have been demanding revision of pay scales, filling of vacant posts, and improvement in working conditions. The KSRTC management had earlier expressed its inability to meet the demands citing financial constraints.
Background
The transport unions had announced a statewide strike on Thursday to press for their demands. The strike was expected to affect bus services across Karnataka, including Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses. The High Court's intervention comes as a relief for commuters who were bracing for disruptions.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Friday, where the court will review the progress of the meeting and pass further orders. The unions have agreed to abide by the court's order and have called off the strike for now.
