The Delhi High Court today restrained Air India employees from continuing with their strike which is causing huge loss to the airline and inconvenience to passengers.
Justice Rajiv Sakdher issued notice to the striking employees union and posted the matter for further hearing on July 13.
The ex-parte order was passed on a petition moved by National Aviation Company of India (NACIL), which runs the national carrier, alleging that the strike by the employees was illegal when the reconciliation process was going on.
The company submitted that the strike was violative of sections 22 and 24 of the Industrial Disputes Act and it has caused 50 per cent loss in its business since yesterday.
The Air Corporation Employees Unions and All India Aircraft Engineers Association, which are leading the strike, together claim a membership of about 20,000 employees or about 60 per cent of the staff strength.
The Unions are protesting against a 'gag order' on members for talking to the media after Saturday's air crash in Mangalore and 'delay' in payment of salaries. The management however clarified there is only one general circular and that there was no 'gag order".
The High Court also directed the Air Corporation Employees Union, which is leading the strike now, not to go ahead with its proposed strike from May 31.
The union had on May 15 served a mandatory 14 day notice to the management for resorting to strike protesting delay in payment of salaries by a week.
It made it clear to the protesting employees not to cause any obstruction to the passengers and visitors at the airports and various offices of the airlines.
