Several platform aggregators including Swiggy, Zepto, Zomato's parent Eternal Ltd, Urban Company, and Valmo Transportation have filed a writ petition in the Karnataka High Court on June 27 challenging the Karnataka Platform-Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Act, 2025. The petition argues that the state law conflicts with the central Code on Social Security (CoSS), 2020, which already provides a national framework for gig and platform workers, according to medianama.com.
The petitioners, represented by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), contend that the Karnataka law violates the doctrine of repugnancy under Article 254 of the Constitution, which prohibits a state law from conflicting with central legislation on the same subject. They argue that the central Code covers identification, welfare schemes, and aggregator contributions for gig workers, making the state law redundant and illegal. The companies also claim the state Act imposes duplicate welfare contribution costs and violates fundamental rights including the right to equality under Article 14, as reported by medianama.com.
This legal challenge highlights tensions between state and central regulations for gig economy workers in India. The central Code on Social Security, enacted in 2020, aims to create uniform welfare standards across the country, while Karnataka’s 2025 Act attempts to establish additional protections. The case could set a precedent for how gig worker welfare is regulated nationwide, affecting major platform companies and their operational costs. The writ petition underscores the ongoing debate over jurisdiction and regulatory frameworks in India’s rapidly growing gig economy, per medianama.com.
The Karnataka High Court has yet to list the matter for hearing. The petition was filed on June 27, 2026, and involves multiple leading platform aggregators represented by IAMAI, marking a significant legal contest over gig worker welfare laws in India, according to medianama.com.