Karnataka cop who worked 16-hour shifts for 60 days gets High Court relief

Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court has quashed the suspension of a transport constable who was removed from duty after being caught taking a brief nap at work, despite working 16-hour shifts for two consecutive months.

Justice M Nagaprasanna ruled in favour of Chandrashekar, a constable with the state-run Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC).

Upholding the right to rest and sleep as fundamental under constitutional and international labour laws, the court ruled that the corporation itself was at fault for overburdening Chandrashekar with excessive working hours.

Chandrashekar, appointed as a transport constable in the Koppal division on May 13, 2016, was found sleeping at work on April 23, 2024. As the video went viral, he was suspended on July 1, 2024.

According to a Times of India report, Chandrashekar defended himself by arguing that for 60 consecutive days, he had been working two shifts daily—totalling 16 hours—leading to sleep deprivation. The KKRTC, however, contended that his act had brought disrepute to the corporation.

Justice Nagaprasanna ruled that KKRTC had violated labour rights by forcing the constable to work beyond legally prescribed hours. The judge gave the reference to Article 24 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees the right to rest and leisure. He also said that international labour laws limit work hours to 48 per week and 8 per day.

"If the petitioner had fallen asleep while working a single shift, it would be misconduct. But in this case, he was forced to work 16-hour shifts without rest for 60 days. The KKRTC's action against him is unjustified," the court noted.

Declaring the suspension "unsustainable," the court directed KKRTC to reinstate Chandrashekar with full benefits, including back pay and continuity of service.