Karnataka High Court: Stays Circulars Deferring Revised Minimum Wages

The Karnataka High Court on Friday stayed the operation of circulars that direct various authorities to withhold the implementation of revised minimum wages for outsourced and contract employees [All India Trade Union Congress & others v. State of Karnataka & others].Justice H T Narendra Prasad passed the order while issuing a notice to the State on three petitions challenging circulars issued by the Karnataka State Audit and Accounts Department, the Directorate of Municipal Administration and the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department (RDPR).Justice H T Narendra PrasadThe petitions have been filed by the All India Trade Union Congress, Karnataka Rajya Sarkari Khayametharara Noukarara Okkuta, the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) and others.The unions have challenged circulars dated July 29, August 10 and August 28, 2026, which direct government departments and local authorities to suspend or defer implementation of revised minimum wage rates notified by the Karnataka government on May 22.The petitioners contend that the May 22 notification continues to remain operative and that the pendency of challenges to the revised wage rates cannot justify withholding their implementation, particularly in the absence of any court order staying the notification.They have also questioned the authority and jurisdiction of the concerned departments to suspend the implementation of statutory minimum wages through administrative circulars.According to the pet