Referring to the ongoing indefinite strike by government employees seeking restoration of the old pension scheme, the Bombay High Court on Friday asked the Maharashtra government about the steps taken to curb the menace of illegal strikes and remarked, “common citizens should not suffer”.
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A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice S.V. Gangapurwala and Justice Sandeep Marne was hearing an application filed by advocate Gunratan Sadavarte, seeking a direction from the court to 17 lakh government employees to withdraw their ongoing strike. On March 14 this year paramedics working in State-run hospitals, sanitation workers, nurses, ward boys and teachers joined the strike.
Advocate General Birendra Saraf told the court that the strike was illegal and said the government was making all endeavours to ensure that no person suffered in the process. He said the employees did not have fundamental or the moral right to strike and must be prohibited from continuing it.
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The Bench said, “Our anxiety is that the common citizens should not be deprived of essential service. Common citizens should not suffer. We want to know what steps the State is taking to curb this menace. What are the modalities and steps the government is taking to ensure basic amenities and essential services are made available to people,” the court added.
The court also noted that people had the right to protest but the government had to ensure steps were taken, so that no one suffered.
The Bench directed advocate Sadavarte to add all the striking unions as a party to the application, and posted the matter to be heard on March 23.