Karnataka High Court Issues Notices on Challenge to Minimum Wage Hike

The Karnataka High Court in Bengaluru on Tuesday issued formal notices to both the state and central governments following a petition that challenges a May 22 government notification to increase minimum wages.

Justice Jyoti M presided over the matter and posted the case to June 9. On that date, the court is scheduled to consider the interim prayer for a stay on the notification, which was sought by the petitioners.

The legal challenge was jointly filed by the Karnataka Employers’ Association (KEA) and Ethereal Machines Private Limited, a company based in Bengaluru.

According to the petitioners, government authorities issued the minimum wage notification despite restrictive orders that had already been passed by the High Court during June and July of last year.

The petitioners argued that Section 69(1) of the Payment of Wages Act, the Minimum Wages Act, the Payment of Bonus Act, and the Equal Remuneration Act were repealed as of November 21, 2025. They maintained that this repeal effectively eliminated the concept of scheduled employment.

Despite these legislative changes, the petitioners stated that the authorities proceeded to issue the notification, thereby giving effect to provisions that already stood repealed. The court's upcoming decision on June 9 will address the interim stay request.