Karnataka High Court warns of contempt action if KSRTC strike continues

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday warned that it may initiate contempt of court action against relevant union officer bearers if employees of the  Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) continue their transport bus strike [Sri Sunil J and ors v. State of Karnataka and ors].

The Court had yesterday ordered a stay on the KSRTC strike. However, KSRTC workers reportedly went ahead with their strike, bringing transport bus services in the State to a halt.

A Bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakru and Justice CM Joshi today took a dim view of this turn of events, particularly since the State has issued a notification under the Karnataka Essential Services Maintenance Act, 2013 (KESMA), declaring the strike illegal.

The Court observed that the strike had caused severe inconvenience to daily commuters.

"As of now, this strike is illegal ... Make no issue, we are going to issue contempt against office bearers. It’s not just the Court, it is the law of the land. Police have the power to arrest (under the KESMA), we will direct the arrest of office bearers… Public can’t be inconvenienced in this manner. You can’t hold the public to ransom. This is exactly what the union is doing," the Court orally observed.

The Court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition that sought disciplinary action against striking KSRTC employees. The employees had called the strike over pending payments of salary arrears.

The Court was told today that the strike has been suspended while negotiations with the State are underway.

The Court proceeded to warn that since a notification has been issued under the KESMA declaring the strike illegal, striking workers now risk facing penalties prescribed under the Act if they continue to abstain from work.

It also extended its earlier interim order restraining the workers from striking until August 7, when the matter will be heard next.