Uber has officially challenged the constitutional validity of the Karnataka Platform-Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Act, 2025, in the Karnataka High Court. The ride-hailing company argues that the state-level legislation creates a parallel social security framework that conflicts with the Union government’s Code on Social Security, 2020. By imposing additional financial obligations on platform aggregators, Uber contends that the state law exceeds its legislative authority under the Indian Constitution.
During the hearing on July 28, 2026, Justice Suraj Govindaraj issued notices to the Union government, the Karnataka state government, and the Karnataka Platform-Based Gig Workers Welfare Board. The court directed that Uber’s petition be heard alongside other pending challenges filed by various industry players, including Swiggy and Zomato. These companies are collectively seeking to strike down the Act, its associated rules, and the government orders that established the welfare board.
As part of the proceedings, the High Court granted Uber interim relief similar to that provided to other platforms in early July. This protection prevents the state government from taking coercive action against the company, provided that Uber deposits the mandated welfare contributions with the court registry. The court granted the company a three-week window from July 28 to comply with this payment requirement.
This legal battle highlights the ongoing tension between state-level welfare initiatives and federal labor frameworks. While the Karnataka Act aims to provide social security, grievance redressal, and occupational safety for gig workers, aggregators argue that the overlapping regulations create operational and financial burdens. The court has scheduled the next hearing for August 14, 2026, where it will continue to examine the constitutional validity of the state’s approach to the gig economy.