The Karnataka High Court has overturned the suspension of a constable employed by the Kalyan Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KST), who was found sleeping on duty. The court ruled that the suspension was unjustified, emphasizing the importance of a proper work-life balance and adequate rest for employees.
Justice M. Nagaprasanna, who ruled on the case, allowed the petition filed by Chandrashekhar, the constable in question, and pointed out that employees today need proper sleep and balance between work and personal life. The judge stated, “If a person is overworked beyond their capacity, the body sometimes forces them to sleep. A work-life balance is essential.”
The court also added that depriving anyone of sleep can lead to unintended consequences. “Today, it might be a constable, but tomorrow it could be anyone. Depriving a person of sleep leads to them falling asleep anywhere,” the judge said. “Sleep and leisure are vital aspects of maintaining a balance between work and life.”
The issue began on April 23, 2024, when a vigilance report claimed that Chandrashekhar was found sleeping while on duty. A video of him sleeping was recorded and circulated on social media platforms, including WhatsApp groups. Based on this, the authorities questioned him about the incident.
In his defense, Chandrashekhar explained that he had taken medicine as prescribed by his doctor and had been working continuous shifts. Due to the exhaustion, he said he had taken a brief power nap of about 10 minutes.
However, the authorities argued that the video, which was widely shared, caused harm to its reputation, leading to his suspension.
The court took into account the fact that the constables at the depot were already overworked. There were only three constables assigned to the depot, and they were handling 24 hours of duty, working 8-hour shifts. Chandrashekhar had been asked to work double shifts, totaling 16 hours a day, for 60 consecutive days. The vigilance department also recommended hiring additional staff to reduce the workload.
Referring to international human rights standards, including Article 24 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees the right to rest and leisure, the court emphasized the importance of limiting working hours. The court also referred to guidelines set by the International Labour Organization (ILO), which advocate for a maximum of 48 hours of work per week and 8 hours per day, except in exceptional cases.
The court concluded that, given the exceptional circumstances of the case, it was unreasonable to consider the constable’s brief rest as misconduct. “Employees working shifts must have a work-life balance,” said the bench. “No fault can be found with the petitioner sleeping during duty hours under these conditions.”
In its final ruling, the court annulled the suspension order, stating that the suspension was an unjust action, caused by the respondent’s own failure to ensure proper work conditions. The court declared the suspension order unsustainable and ordered it to be removed.
