IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 18^TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANANT RAMANATH HEGDE WRIT PETITION NO. 3784 OF 2026 (L-RES)

BETWEEN:

GLASTRONIX LLP, PLOT NO. 21E2-2^ND PHASE PEENYA INDUSTRIAL AREA, BENGALURU - 560058.

REPRESENTED BY ITS DIRECTOR, SRI. PARAG T PRATHAPAN, REGISTRAR UNDER COMPANIES ACT.

…PETITIONER (BY SRI S N MURTHY, SENIOR COUNSEL A/W SRI SOMASHEKAR, ADVOCATE)

AND:

1. THE PRESIDENT/GENERAL SECRETARY, GLASTRONIX KARMIKA SANGHA, NO. 172/2, GROUND FLOOR, Digitally signed by 4^TH MAIN ROAD, 7^TH CROSS, PRAMILA G V CHAMARAJAPET, BENGALURU - 560018.

Location:

HIGH COURT

2. THE SECRETARY, OF KARNATAKA LABOUR DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA, VIKASA SOUDHA, DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU 560001.

3. THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT, SHRAMA SHAKTI BHAVAN, RAFI MARG, NEW DELHI - 110001.

…RESPONDENTS (BY SMT MAITREYI KRISHNAN, ADVOCATE FOR R1, SRI M RAJAKUMAR, AGA FOR R2, SRI TUSHAR MEHTA, SOLICITOR GENERAL A/W SRI K ARAVIND KAMATH, ADDITIONAL SOLICITOR GENERAL A/W SRI GOWTHAM DEV C ULLAL, CGC FOR R3)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO A) ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT OR ORDER AND QUASH THE ORDER BEARING NO.LD- IDM/510/2025/LD.DO.6.L-S DATED 19.12.2025 ISSUED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.2 AT ANNEXURE DB) ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI AND/OR ANY OTHER WRIT OR ORDER AND QUASH THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION DATED 08.12.2025 AT ANNEXURE G TO THIS WRIT PETITION.C) PASS SUCH OTHER ORDER(S) AS DEEMED FIT IN THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE.

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANANT RAMANATH HEGDE

ORAL ORDER

Heard the learned Senior Counsel Sri. S.N. Murthy, appearing for the petitioner, the learned counsel Smt.Maitreyi Krishnan appearing for respondent No.1, learned Additional Government Advocate for respondent No.2, learned Solicitor General Sri.Tushar Mehta along with Sri.Arvind Kamath, learned Additional Solicitor for respondent No.3.

2. This petition was disposed of vide order dated

10.02.2026. The said order was passed on the premise that Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (for short 'Act, 1947') is in force. However, before signing the order, the Court noticed that, in terms of notification dated 02.02.2026 the Act, 1947 was repealed. Hence, the draft order dismissing the petition was not signed and the matter was listed for further hearing. Accordingly, the matter is heard afresh.

3. This petition is filed assailing the order dated

19.12.2025 issued by respondent No.2. In terms of the said order, the dispute between the petitioner and respondent No.1/Employees Union is referred to adjudication to the Industrial Tribunal, Bengaluru.

4. Learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner would urge that the reference is invalid inasmuch as the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 (Code, 2020) is notified with effect from 21.11.2025. In terms of the said Code, 2020, the Government has no jurisdiction to refer the dispute under the Act, 1947.

5. It is the contention that the notification dated

08.12.2025 does not remove the difficulties and seeks to go beyond the powers conferred under Section 103 of the Code, 2020. On these grounds, it is urged that the notification at Annexure - G passed under Section 103 of the Code, 2020 is also required to be quashed.

6. Learned Solicitor General for respondent no.2 would contend that Section 104 of the Code, 2020 is amended on 16.02.2026 and the powers of the Tribunals and other statutory authorities under the Code, 2020, are restored till the Tribunals become functional under the Code, 2020.

7. Learned Senior Counsel for the petitioner by way of reply would urge that the amendment to Section 104 of the Code, 2020 will not come to the aid of the respondents to contend that the authorities and the Tribunals under the Act, 1947 will have jurisdiction, a