Latest news with #CMJoshi
Hindustan Times
06-08-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Karnataka HC criticises transport strike; protest suspended till August 7
With public transport services disrupted across Karnataka on Tuesday, the high court issued a stern warning to protesting transport employees, criticising the continuation of their agitation despite a court directive and the invocation of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA). The court's strong response prompted the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) Staff and Workers' Federation to suspend the strike until Thursday, when the matter is scheduled to be heard again. Police personnel at a bus depot as Karnataka transport workers launched an indefinite strike in Bengaluru on Tuesday. (PTI) A division bench of chief justice Vibhu Bakhru and justice CM Joshi, while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL), expressed serious displeasure over the trade unions' defiance of its interim order. The judges made it clear that the court would not tolerate ongoing disruption and warned of potential contempt proceedings if the strike continued. 'If you have grievances, resolve them through dialogue with the government. You cannot inconvenience the public. Continuing the strike even after ESMA has been invoked is illegal,' the bench observed during the hearing. The PIL, filed by Sunil J and four others and represented by advocate Deeksha N Amrutesh, sought the court's intervention to prevent hardship to commuters. The court had earlier instructed the unions to postpone the proposed indefinite strike, initially planned to begin on Tuesday. However, the strike still went ahead, prompting the court to extend its interim stay on the agitation for two more days and demand an affidavit confirming the strike's suspension. The ongoing agitation was driven by employee demands for a 25% hike on a base pay of ₹1,124, along with 38 months' worth of arrears, amounting to an estimated ₹1,800 crore. While chief minister Siddaramaiah offered to release arrears for 14 months and called upon the unions to end the strike, the unions rejected the proposal, insisting they deserved full payment for all 38 months. The court on Tuesday orally cautioned that leaders of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), which represents employees from all four state-run transport corporations — KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC and KKRTC — could face arrest under ESMA provisions if the strike resumed. Notices were also issued to the unions, and the court reiterated that the public must not be held hostage by such protests. 'Has the strike been suspended today? The strike is illegal. Police have already arrested anybody who is supporting the strike? Whatever you (trade unions) do (do it) in accordance with the law. As of now, the strike is illegal. If you have issues, you can negotiate with the government. You can't hold the public for ransom, but that is exactly what the unions are doing. The public can't be inconvenienced in this manner,' the court remarked. Responding to the court's observations, JAC's legal counsel assured that the strike would not continue on Wednesday and that workers would resume duties. Shortly after the hearing, KSRTC Staff and Workers' Federation president HV Anantha Subbarao addressed a press conference to announce the suspension of the agitation. 'After receiving clear directions from the Hon'ble Court, we have withdrawn the strike and appealed to all workers to resume duty,' he said. Subbarao also urged management not to punish employees who had participated in the protest. 'We urge the management not to resort to any form of victimisation,' he added. On the ground, public transport in Karnataka remained patchy on Tuesday. In Bengaluru, the state government claimed that BMTC services were operational, but ridership in districts was reportedly at 50%. In Bengaluru Shivajinagar Bus Stand showed limited services, and there was heavy commuter rush at Majestic Metro Station due to increased reliance on the Namma Metro. Areas in Kalyana Karnataka and North-West Karnataka bore the brunt of the strike.
Hans India
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Karnataka High Court Intervenes To Halt Transport Strike Until August 7
The Karnataka High Court delivered a decisive intervention on Tuesday by officially barring the ongoing transport workers' strike until August 7, issuing stern warnings of contempt proceedings against unions that continue the disruptive action. Chief Justice CM Joshi expressed strong displeasure with the transport unions for proceeding with their strike despite the invocation of the Essential Services Maintenance Act and previous court directions, calling the disruption of public services completely unacceptable. The court's intervention came as the indefinite strike by employees of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporations severely affected both inter-state and intra-state bus services across the state, creating significant hardships for commuters and the general public. The unions, representing KSRTC employees, claimed they had not received the court's earlier order, but the High Court firmly rejected this explanation as inadequate justification for continuing the disruptive action. Justice Joshi demanded a comprehensive status report on the outcomes of meetings held between the state government and union representatives, emphasizing that if the strike continues beyond the court's directive, strict action must be taken under the Essential Services Maintenance Act. The court scheduled the next hearing for August 7, when the matter will be reviewed for further proceedings and potential resolution. The strike has created widespread disruption across Karnataka, with visual evidence from major transportation hubs highlighting the severity of the situation. Shivajinagar Bus Stand in Bengaluru showed sparse services, while key transit points like Majestic Metro Station experienced heavy passenger rushes due to increased dependency on the Namma Metro system. The regions of Kalyana Karnataka and North-West Karnataka have been particularly hard hit by the transportation disruption. State government officials attempted to minimize the impact by claiming that all Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses were operational within Bengaluru city limits. However, district services operated at only 50 percent capacity, significantly affecting rural and inter-city connectivity. Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy expressed optimism that normalcy would be restored by the afternoon and confirmed that a Public Interest Litigation had been filed regarding the strike situation. The fundamental dispute centers around the transport employees' longstanding demand for a 25 percent salary increase over their base pay of Rs 1,124, along with payment of arrears accumulated over 38 months, which amounts to an estimated Rs 1,800 crore. This substantial financial demand has created a significant standoff between the unions and the state government, with both sides maintaining firm positions on their respective demands and offers. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah attempted to resolve the crisis by offering arrears payment for 14 months and inviting the unions to call off their strike action. However, the unions firmly refused this compromise offer, arguing that their demand was entirely justified since employees had worked throughout all 38 months in question and deserved full compensation for their services during this period. The Chief Minister pointed out that the previous BJP government had already approved a 15 percent salary hike and provided arrears covering the period from January 2022 to February 2023. He characterized the fresh demand for additional increases as excessive, particularly given the poor financial condition of the state transport corporations, though he maintained that the government remained open to further negotiations and discussions. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar made emotional appeals to the striking employees, urging them to consider the significant hardship their action was causing to the general public and requesting their cooperation in finding a mutually acceptable solution. He emphasized the broader social impact of the strike and the need for public servants to prioritize citizen welfare in their decision-making process. The strike has highlighted the ongoing financial challenges facing Karnataka's state transport corporations, which must balance employee welfare demands with operational sustainability and public service obligations. The substantial arrears amount of Rs 1,800 crore represents a significant financial burden for the state government, which must also consider its overall fiscal responsibilities and budget constraints. The court's intervention reflects the judiciary's role in balancing workers' rights to protest with the essential nature of public transportation services. The Essential Services Maintenance Act provides legal framework for preventing disruptions to critical public services, and the High Court's firm stance demonstrates the legal system's commitment to protecting public interests during labor disputes. With negotiations between the government and unions remaining deadlocked, the August 7 court hearing will be crucial in determining the next steps for resolving this transportation crisis that has affected millions of Karnataka residents and commuters.
Hindustan Times
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Karnataka HC cracks whip, trade unions suspend strike till Aug 7
Bengaluru, The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday came down heavily on the transport strike despite its interim order and warned of contempt proceedings, following which the KSRTC Staff and Workers' Federation announced suspension of the agitation till August 7, when the matter will be heard next. Karnataka HC cracks whip, trade unions suspend strike till Aug 7 A division bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C M Joshi expressed strong displeasure over the strike being carried out despite the invocation of the Essential Services Maintenance Act and the court's direction not to proceed with the agitation. The bench warned that the continuation of the strike would not be tolerated and would initiate contempt proceedings against the union leaders. The court extended its earlier interim order restraining the strike by two more days and directed the unions to submit an affidavit on Wednesday confirming that the strike has been called off. KSRTC Staff and Workers' Federation president H V Anantha Subbarao told reporters in Bengaluru that the agitation had been suspended till August 7 and employees had been instructed to return to work with immediate effect. During the hearing, the Advocate General informed the court that the strike had caused significant hardship to the public. In response to a query from the bench regarding efforts at conciliation, details of past rounds of talks with the government were submitted. The court observed that if there are issues then they should be resolved through talks with the government. It also noted that resorting to a strike even after ESMA had been enforced was unlawful. The court also issued notices to the unions of all four state transport corporations. The counsel for the Joint Action Committee assured the court that the strike would not continue on Wednesday. The court made it clear that if the strike is resumed, the government is free to take appropriate legal action under ESMA. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
News18
05-08-2025
- Politics
- News18
Karnataka HC cracks whip, trade unions suspend strike till Aug 7
Bengaluru, Aug 5 (PTI) The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday came down heavily on the transport strike despite its interim order and warned of contempt proceedings, following which the KSRTC Staff and Workers' Federation announced suspension of the agitation till August 7, when the matter will be heard next. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C M Joshi expressed strong displeasure over the strike being carried out despite the invocation of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) and the court's direction not to proceed with the agitation. The bench warned that the continuation of the strike would not be tolerated and would initiate contempt proceedings against the union leaders. The court extended its earlier interim order restraining the strike by two more days and directed the unions to submit an affidavit on Wednesday confirming that the strike has been called off. KSRTC Staff and Workers' Federation president H V Anantha Subbarao told reporters in Bengaluru that the agitation had been suspended till August 7 and employees had been instructed to return to work with immediate effect. During the hearing, the Advocate General informed the court that the strike had caused significant hardship to the public. In response to a query from the bench regarding efforts at conciliation, details of past rounds of talks with the government were submitted. The court observed that if there are issues then they should be resolved through talks with the government. It also noted that resorting to a strike even after ESMA had been enforced was unlawful. The court also issued notices to the unions of all four state transport corporations. The counsel for the Joint Action Committee assured the court that the strike would not continue on Wednesday. The court made it clear that if the strike is resumed, the government is free to take appropriate legal action under ESMA. PTI GMS GMS KH view comments First Published: August 05, 2025, 17:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India Today
05-08-2025
- Business
- India Today
Karnataka High Court bars transport unions' strike till August 7, warns of contempt
The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday barred the ongoing transport strike till August 7, when the matter will be heard for further hearing, warning the striking unions of contempt and calling the disruption of public services Justice CM Joshi came down heavily on the unions for proceeding with the strike despite the invocation of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) and the court's prior unions, representing employees of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporations (KSRTC), had claimed they did not receive the court's order. But the High Court rejected this as a valid excuse and sought a status report on the outcome of meetings held between the government and union representatives. The court also directed that if the strike continues, strict action must be taken under stern observations came amid continued disruption across Karnataka, with the indefinite strike severely affecting inter-state and intra-state bus from Shivajinagar Bus Stand in Bengaluru on Tuesday showed sparse services, while key hubs like Majestic Metro Station witnessed heavy rush due to the increased dependency on the Namma Metro. Operations in Kalyana Karnataka and North-West Karnataka have been hit the Bengaluru, the state government claimed all BMTC buses were running, but services in the districts operated at only 50 per cent capacity. Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said the government was hopeful of normalcy by afternoon. He added that a PIL was filed regarding the strike and a court hearing was strike, led by employees' unions, stems from a long-standing demand for a 25 per cent hike over the base pay of Rs 1,124 and arrears for 38 months, estimated at Rs 1,800 crore. While Chief Minister Siddaramaiah offered arrears for 14 months and invited unions to call off the strike, the unions refused, calling the demand justified as employees had worked all 38 reiterated that the previous BJP government had already approved a 15 per cent hike and arrears from January 2022 to February 2023. Calling the fresh demand excessive, he pointed to the poor financial state of the corporations but said the government remained open to further talks. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also urged employees to consider the public's hardship and cooperate.- Ends IN THIS STORY#Karnataka
