Bangalore, 05 August (H.S.): The

Karnataka State Transport Corporation(KSRTC)

employees, who had begun a strike from today demanding the fulfillment of various demands, have called off the strike initiated by the Joint Action Committee of Transport Corporation Employees, following the stern warning of the Karnataka High Court.

The transport workers had begun their strike today even after the court, which was hearing a public interest litigation on Monday, directed them to postpone the strike for a day.

During the hearing held today, the court took a dig at the Joint Action Committee of the Transport Corporations' Trade Unions, which has started a strike. If the strike is not called off, a contempt of court case will be filed. It also warned that the government may arrest the office bearers of the organization under the ESMA Act. Following the court's warning, the transport employees have postponed the strike.

The Transport Employees' Association has informed the court that it will not go on strike from tomorrow.

The lawyer for the Joint Action Committee of Road Transport Corporation Employees gave this information to a bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C. M. Joshi, which was hearing a petition filed by J. Sunil of Bengaluru and others.

As the court proceedings began, Advocate General Shashikaran Shetty, who was present on behalf of the government, said that transport is an essential service. The transport employees have called for a strike, which has caused severe hardship to the common man. The government is holding a mediation meeting with the office bearers of the Transport Corporation Employees' Association under the Industrial Disputes Act. In the meantime, the court has ordered not to hold a transport strike. However, he said that the strike has continued.

At this time, the bench questioned the counsel for the Road Transport Corporation Employees' Association, asking whether the strike had been called off. The counsel replied that traffic in Bengaluru was continuing. It explained that some communication issues had caused confusion in the districts.

Expressing disapproval, the bench said that continuing the strike despite the court order was a contempt of court and warned that a contempt of court petition would be filed against the office bearers of the employee unions.

Also, the bench should be informed on Wednesday about the suspension of the strike. Otherwise, a contempt of court petition will be filed against the office bearers of the unions and an order will be issued for investigation. The bench warned that the arrest of the office bearers of the transport union action committee will be ordered.

The bench said that if there is any problem with the employees of transport corporations, they should discuss it with the government and find a solution. Otherwise, it will not be tolerated to cause problems for the common people.

The strike has continued despite the Essential Services Management Act (ESMA) being in force. The organization's office bearers can be arrested under the ESMA. The court, which directed the union to provide information on the strike on Wednesday, adjourned the hearing to 07 August.

Hindusthan Samachar / Rakesh Mahadevappa