The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Friday adjourned hearing of the Joint Action Committee of Teachers’ Organisations and Government Employees’ Organisations (JACTTO-GEO) case to December 20.
A division bench of Justices M. Venugopal and G. R. Swaminathan adjourned the matter as senior counsel N. G. R. Prasad representing the employees could not attend the court as he was recovering from a surgery and unable to travel to Madurai. His request for video conference in the case was earlier rejected by the court.
Advocate T. Sekaran of Madurai had filed a PIL petition seeking a ban on the agitation by JACTTO-GEO members. He had also filed a contempt petition following disobedience of the court’s order by JACTTO-GEO. The earlier bench had stayed the agitation stating that strike was not a fundamental right and government employees should look for alternative methods to resolve their issues.
The court had directed that disciplinary action against JACTTO-GEO members, who went on an indefinite strike, would be kept in abeyance until further orders, following withdrawal of the strike.
The JACTTO-GEO went on a strike demanding the implementation of Seventh Pay Commission recommendations and restoration of old pension scheme.
