Justice Suraj Govindaraj of Karnataka High Court has on June 7 [Wednesday] recused from hearing a plea challenging the constitutional validity of the Karnataka Platform-Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Act, 2025, and the Rules framed thereunder, stating a potential conflict of interest since the petition was filed through IndusLaw Law Firm.

While hearing the challenge which contends that the State legislation is repugnant to the Code on Social Security, 2020 enacted by the Union and violative of Article 14, Justice Suraj Govindaraj orally noted:

“You should have known…Indus Law…It cannot be before us.”

Although Senior Counsel Dhyan Chinnappa for the petitioners informed the court that they had no objection with the judge hearing the plea, the Court refused to hear the matter and directed that it be placed before another roster bench.

The plea seeks to declare the State Act and Rules as unconstitutional and unenforceable. The plea, specifically, seeks a declaration that the Karnataka Platform Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Act, 2025, and the Karnataka Platform Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Rules, 2025 are unconstitutional and unenforceable, since they are repugnant to the Code on Social Security, 2020, under Article 254.

Hence the plea seeks a declaration that the state Act and Rules are ultra vires Article 14 of the Constitution. State legislature cannot enact a parallel statutory regime not aligned with the Central law, the petitioners including the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Zepto etc. have argued in their plea.

The plea further seeks for quashing the notification dated January 27, 2026, constituting the Karnataka Platform-Based Gig Workers Welfare Board. Incidentally, the petitioners also seek quashing the Government Order dated February 13, 2026, operationalising the welfare fee mechanism as well as the IDRC Notice dated May 21, 2026, directing platforms to constitute Internal Dispute Resolution Committees

Case Title: INTERNET AND MOBILE ASSOCIATION OF INDIA (IAMAI) AND OTHERS V. STATE OF KARNATAKA & ORS.

Case No: WP 19746/2026