- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15987 WP No. 31943 of 2025 C/W WP No. 31807 of 2025 WP No. 32181 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 18TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANANT RAMANATH HEGDE WRIT PETITION NO. 31943 OF 2025 (L-KSRTC) C/W WRIT PETITION NO. 31807 OF 2025 (S-KSRTC) WRIT PETITION NO. 32181 OF 2025 (S-KSRTC) IN WP No. 31943/2025 BETWEEN: 1. MAHESH M S/O. MAHADEVANAYAKA, AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS, DRIVER CUM CONDUCTOR, BADGE NO. 842, KSRTC, GUNDLUPET DEPOT, CHAMARAJANAGARA DIVISION-571 111. 2. RAGHU. M S/O. MARIGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS, DRIVER CUM CONDUCTOR, BADGE NO. 2234, KSRTC, GUNDLUPET DEPOT, CHAMARAJANAGARA DIVISION-571 111. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI H.C.SHIVARAMU, ADV. FOR SRI. SHIVARAJU H.B., ADVOCATE) Digitally signed by C HONNUR SAB Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15987 WP No. 31943 of 2025 C/W WP No. 31807 of 2025 WP No. 32181 of 2025 AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, M.S. BUILDING, BANGALORE-560 001. 2. KARNATAKA STATE ROAD TRANSPORT CORPORATION REP BY THE MANAGING DIRECTOR, TRANSPORT HOUSE, CENTRAL OFFICE, K. H.ROAD, SHANTHINAGAR, BANGALORE-560 027. 3. THE CHIEF ACCOUNTANT OFFICER KSRTC, TRANSPORT HOUSE, CENTRAL OFFICE, K. H.ROAD, SHANTHINAGAR, BANGALORE-560 027. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. M.RAJAKUMAR, AGA. FOR R1, SMT. H.R.RENUKA, ADV. FOR R2 & R3) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO- DIRECT THE R2 TO CONSIDER THE REPRESENTATIONS DATED 24.09.2025 VIDE ANNEXURE-A AND B WITHIN A SPECIFIED TIME FRAME, DIRECT THE RESPONDENTS TO REVISE THE WAGES OF EMPLOYEES OF KSRTC WITH EFFECT FROM - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15987 WP No. 31943 of 2025 C/W WP No. 31807 of 2025 WP No. 32181 of 2025 01.01.2020 AND TO PAY ALL ARREARS BACK WAGES AND ALLOWANCES DUE, AND ETC., IN WP NO. 31807/2025 BETWEEN: 1. MAHADEVASWAMY S/O. RAJAIAH, AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS, DRIVER CUM CONDUCTOR, BADE NO. 2516, BMTC DEPOT NO. 17, CHANDRA LAYOUT, BENGALURU WEST DIVISION-560 040. 2. KUMARA. H. R. S/O. RAJEGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS, DRIVER CUM CONDUCTOR, BADE NO. 21616, BMTC DEPOT NO. 17, CHANDRA LAYOUT, BENGALURU WEST DIVISION-560 040. 3. PRASANNA KUMAR. M AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS, DRIVER CUM CONDUCTOR, BADE NO. 6415, BMTC DEPOT NO. 17, CHANDRA LAYOUT, BENGALURU WEST DIVISION-560 040. ...PETITIONERS (BY SRI H.C.SHIVARAMU, ADV. FOR SRI. SHIVARAJU H.B., ADVOCATE) - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15987 WP No. 31943 of 2025 C/W WP No. 31807 of 2025 WP No. 32181 of 2025 AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, M.S. BUILDING, BANGALORE-560 001. 2. BENGALURU METROPOLITAN TRANSPORT CORPORATION REP BY THE MANAGING DIRECTOR, TRANSPORT HOUSE, CENTRAL OFFICE, K. H. ROAD, SHANTHINAGAR, BANGALORE-560 027. 3. THE CHIEF ACCOUNTANT OFFICER BMTC, TRANSPORT HOUSE, CENTRAL OFFICE, K. H. ROAD, SHANTHINAGAR, BANGALORE-560 027. ...RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. M.RAJAKUMAR, AGA. FOR R1, SMT. H.R.RENUKA, ADV. FOR R2 & R3) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT NO.2 TO THE REPRESENTATIONS DT- 24/09/2025 CONSIDER ANNEXURE-A, B AND C WITHIN A SPECIFIED TIME FRAME, DIRECT THE RESPONDENTS TO REVISE THE WAGES OF EMPLOYEES OF BMTC WITH - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15987 WP No. 31943 of 2025 C/W WP No. 31807 of 2025 WP No. 32181 of 2025 EFFECT FROM 01/01/2020 AND TO PAY ALL ARREARS, BACK WAGES, AND ALLOWANCES DUE, TO GRANT SUCH OTHER RELIEF OR RELIEFS AS THIS HONBLE COURT MAY DEEM FIT TO GRANT IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY, AND ETC., IN WP NO. 32181/2025 BETWEEN: 1. ERESH HIREMAT S/O. BASAIAH, AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS, DRIVER CUM CONDUCTOR, BADGE NO. 12009, BMTC DEPOT NO. 17, CHANDRA LAYOUT, BENGALURU WEST DIVISION-560040. 2. GIRISH BABU. R S/O. H. C. RAMACHANDRAIAH, AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS, DRIVER, BADGE NO. 14038, BMTC DEPOT NO.18, WHITE FIELD, CENTRAL DIVISION, BENGALURU -560066. ...PETITIONERS (BY SRI H.C.SHIVARAMU, ADV. FOR SRI. SHIVARAJU H.B., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15987 WP No. 31943 of 2025 C/W WP No. 31807 of 2025 WP No. 32181 of 2025 M.S. BUILDING, BANGALORE-560 001. 2. BENGALURU METROPOLITAN TRANSPORT CORPORATION REP BY THE MANAGING DIRECTOR, T RANSPORT HOUSE, CENTRAL OFFICE, K. H. ROAD, SHANTHINAGAR, BANGALORE-560 027. 3. THE CHIEF ACCOUNTANT OFFICER BMTC, TRANSPORT HOUSE, CENTRAL OFFICE, K. H. ROAD, SHANTHINAGAR, BANGALORE-560 027. ...RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. M.RAJAKUMAR, AGA. FOR R1, SMT. H.R.RENUKA, ADV. FOR R2 & R3) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT NO.2 TO CONSIDER THE REPRESENTATIONS DT-25/09/2025 ANNEXURE-A AND B WITHIN A SPECIFIED TIME FRAME, DIRECT THE RESPONDENTS TO REVISE THE WAGES OF EMPLOYEES OF BMTC WITH EFFECT FROM 01/01/2020 AND TO PAY ALL ARREARS, BACK WAGES, AND ALLOWANCES DUE. THESE PETITIONS, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15987 WP No. 31943 of 2025 C/W WP No. 31807 of 2025 WP No. 32181 of 2025 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANANT RAMANATH HEGDE ORAL ORDER Heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners and also the learned counsel appearing for the respondents in all the Writ Petitions. 2. These Writ Petitions are filed by the workmen of respondent No.2-Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation. The prayers are to direct respondent No.2 to consider the representations in W.P.No.31943/2025 dated 24.09.2025 vide Annexures A and B, in W.P.No.31807/ 2025 dated 24.09.2025 vide Annexures A, B & C and in W.P.No.32181/2025 dated 25.09.2025 vide Annexures A and B. 3. In terms of the said representations addressed by the petitioners respectively, they have sought revision of wages with effect from 01.01.2020 and 5% hike in salary on par with the Government employees and direction to pay the allowances and other service related - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15987 WP No. 31943 of 2025 C/W WP No. 31807 of 2025 WP No. 32181 of 2025 privileges without any delay and to remove the disparities between the transport employees and other Government employees. 4. Learned counsel appearing for the respondents has brought to the notice of the Court the Government Order dated 18.02.2026, where the Government has taken the additional step to pay 26 months of arrears of wages payable to the employees of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation. In addition, the government has also taken the decision to take steps for discussion relating to the revision of wages in the presence of the Workmen's Union. 5. Considering the prayers made in these petitions and the scope of these petitions and also considering the Government Order dated 18.02.2026, this Court is of the view that the direction cannot be issued to consider the representations when such representations are filed by the individual workman. - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:15987 WP No. 31943 of 2025 C/W WP No. 31807 of 2025 WP No. 32181 of 2025 6. The workmen have to approach the concerned Authority through the Union, which is one of the requirements under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. 7. Accordingly, the Writ Petitions are dismissed. 8. Merely because these writ petitions are dismissed does not mean that the petitioners’ claim relating to revision of wages is denied by the Court. Sd/- (ANANT RAMANATH HEGDE) JUDGE SSB