The Delhi High Court on Wednesday restrained the striking Air India pilots belonging to the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) from organising agitations within a 200-metre circumference of the offices of the Air India.
Justice Reva Khetrapal passed the order on a petition by the Air India management urging it to declare the strike illegal as it had caused inconvenience to passengers due to cancellation of flights and financial loss to the loss-making concern.
Justice Khetrapal also issued notice to the IPG, asking it to file a reply to the petition. The matter will come up for further hearing on July 13.
The court also restrained the striking pilots from reporting sick. Justice Khetrapal said: “The defendant no. 1 [IPG], its members, agents and its office bearers are restrained from illegal strike. The pilots are also restrained from reporting sick, holding dharnas, staging demonstrations or resorting to any other modes of strike in and outside the company's offices in Delhi and other regional offices.''
Justice Khetrapal also observed that Air India made out a case for a restraint order, observing that the Supreme Court had held that public sector companies could not be held to ransom by such strikes.
