NEW
DELHI: The Delhi
High Court today sought the stands of the Centre and the Air India on a
petition by the pilots
questioning the court's authority to entertain the plea against their strike.
A vacation bench of Justice Pratibha Rani issued notices to the Centre and the Air India management on the plea, which sought to set aside the May 9, 2012 ex-parte order of the single-judge bench restraining them from going on strike.
"Where is the urgency? Just file the reply on July 13, the date already fixed for the matter. Notice be issued to the Air India and the Centre for July 13," the bench said on the plea of pilots which questioned the jurisdiction of the Delhi High Court in entertaining the plea against their strike.
The Indian Pilots Guild (IPG), representing the pilots of original Air India, the entity prior to its merger with Indian Airlines, had approached the court seeking to set aside and vacate the single judge's May 9 order.
The IPG, in its plea, sought to "set aside, vacate and discharge" the May 9, 2012 order, passed by single judge bench saying that Delhi High Court lacked jurisdiction as its office was in Mumbai.
"This court lacks jurisdiction to entertain this suit also in view that the dispute involved is squarely within the definition of industrial dispute under the provision of the Industrial Disputes Act," the petition said.
On May 9, Justice Reva Khetrapal had restrained over 200 agitating Air India pilots from continuing their "illegal strike" after reporting sick and then staging demonstrations, a day after the airlines management sacked 10 pilots and derecognised their union.
Senior advocate Lalit Bhasin, who appeared for Air India, said the pilots cannot be heard as they were in "contempt".
The bench also refused to give a hearing to the pilots saying there was no urgency and listed the matter for July 13.
The pilots were agitating over the rescheduling of Boeing 787 Dreamliner training and matters relating to their career progression under the banner of IPG.
A vacation bench of Justice Pratibha Rani issued notices to the Centre and the Air India management on the plea, which sought to set aside the May 9, 2012 ex-parte order of the single-judge bench restraining them from going on strike.
"Where is the urgency? Just file the reply on July 13, the date already fixed for the matter. Notice be issued to the Air India and the Centre for July 13," the bench said on the plea of pilots which questioned the jurisdiction of the Delhi High Court in entertaining the plea against their strike.
The Indian Pilots Guild (IPG), representing the pilots of original Air India, the entity prior to its merger with Indian Airlines, had approached the court seeking to set aside and vacate the single judge's May 9 order.
The IPG, in its plea, sought to "set aside, vacate and discharge" the May 9, 2012 order, passed by single judge bench saying that Delhi High Court lacked jurisdiction as its office was in Mumbai.
"This court lacks jurisdiction to entertain this suit also in view that the dispute involved is squarely within the definition of industrial dispute under the provision of the Industrial Disputes Act," the petition said.
On May 9, Justice Reva Khetrapal had restrained over 200 agitating Air India pilots from continuing their "illegal strike" after reporting sick and then staging demonstrations, a day after the airlines management sacked 10 pilots and derecognised their union.
Senior advocate Lalit Bhasin, who appeared for Air India, said the pilots cannot be heard as they were in "contempt".
The bench also refused to give a hearing to the pilots saying there was no urgency and listed the matter for July 13.
The pilots were agitating over the rescheduling of Boeing 787 Dreamliner training and matters relating to their career progression under the banner of IPG.
Etihad, Qatar Airways eye stake in SpiceJet
No-frills airline, SpiceJet, is in
discussions with two West Asian airlines, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways, for
a minority stake sale. The move comes amidst expectations that the government
would allow foreign airlines to invest directly in Indian carriers.
When contacted, a SpiceJet
spokesperson said, “We do not comment on any market speculation.” Some foreign
carriers have expressed interest in picking up a stake in SpiceJet if there
would be a change at the policy level by the government. Various investors have
approached SpiceJet and we are in talks with them. As of now, we have not
finalised any deal but if everything goes well, we may enter into a mutually
beneficial deal,” he added.
The discussions with the two
airlines were, however, at a preliminary stage, sources familiar with the
developments said.
India currently allows up to 49 per
cent foreign investment in Indian carriers, but foreign airlines are barred.
Spicejet Chief Executive Officer
Neil Mills had said earlier the loss-making airline was approached by a few
Gulf and Southeast Asian airlines.
Emails sent to Etihad and Qatar
Airways did not elicit any response.
SpiceJet has a market capitalisation
of Rs 1,586 crore at Monday’s closing price of Rs 32.75 a share on the Bombay
Stock Exchange. In 2010, Sun TV promoter Kalanithi Maran had purchased about 38
per cent stake in SpiceJet for Rs 750 crore at Rs 47.25 a share. The holding
went up to 48.6 per cent after the investment of another Rs 100 crore for an
additional five per cent stake in April.
SpiceJet had widened its
fourth-quarter loss to Rs 249 crore from Rs 59 crore in the year-ago period.
The carrier, after two consecutive years of profit, ended 2011-12 with a loss
of Rs 605 crore, against a net profit of Rs 101 crore in 2010-11 and about Rs
62 crore in 2009-10. Its operating performance improved and its market share in
May was 18.5 per cent, making it the third largest domestic airline by
passenger volume. It flies 41 planes — 34 Boeing 737s and seven turboprop
Bombardier Q400s. The airline launched flights to Dubai on Monday — its third
foreign destination after Colombo and Kathmandu.
Sushi Shyamal,
partner-infrastructure practice, Ernst & Young India, said, “The mounting
number of international passengers from India in the backdrop of a growing
economy and their proximity to India are major reasons for West Asian players
to tap the Indian market through possible strategic alliances.”
Etihad, which reported its first
annual profit of $14 million for 2011, has been on an acquisition spree over
the last few months. It has picked up 29 per cent stake in Air Berlin of
Germany and 40 per cent stake in Air Seychelles. In addition, the airline has
picked up three per cent stake in Aer Lingus of Ireland and four per cent in
Virgin Australia, which it is likely to raise up to 10 per cent.
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