Defying the High Court order, HRTC employees today went on strike over several demands, including regularisation of contract staff and protection of pension benefits, crippling transport services in the state.
The Himachal Road Transport Corporation employees went on strike at the call of Coordination Committee of employees Unions.
The Leaders of the Coordination Committee claimed that the strike was total and the entire fleet of over 2,200 buses was off-road.
The HRTC has also demanded its conversion into roadways.
The Himachal Pradesh High Court had yesterday directed HRTC employees not to go on strike on June 14-15 and asked the Principal Secretary (Transport) to redress their legitimate grievances by June 20.
The order was passed by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan on a petition filed by Community Initiate trust (a social welfare trust) citing newspaper reports regarding the threat issued by HRTC employees unions to go on a two-day strike.
The strike has hit public transport with only private operators plying buses.
The HRTC employees, who went on two-day strike from midnight, did not disrupt traffic. They did not stop the private buses and taxis, which were overloaded due to increase in rush of passengers.
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Meanwhile, HRTC Managing director, Ashok Tiwari said members ofemployees Unions were called for talks in pursuant of the Court orders but they walked out of meeting after two or three of their demands were discussed.
He said they raised slogans against HRTC.
He said in compliance of the directions ofHigh Court today pertaining to contempt proceedings he tried to deliver the orders.
He said it was read out to them, especially the part pertaining to calling off the strike by 5 pm today but they refused to call off the strike or accept the copy of the orders.
