New Delhi/
Mumbai, May 17:
The Delhi High
Court today told the agitating Air India pilots that they cannot continue their
“illegal strike”. A Division Bench rejected the plea of the Indian Pilots Guild
challenging the May 9 order of a single-judge Bench restraining the pilots from
continuing their “illegal strike” by reporting sick.
The Bench also
held that the Delhi High Court had the jurisdiction to hear and pass orders
against the striking pilots. It also observed that the Single-Judge Bench was
at liberty to start contempt of court proceedings against the striking pilots.
The agitation
was against the decision of the Air India management to send pilots of the
erstwhile Indian for training to fly the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The first of
the 27 Dreamliner aircraft is scheduled to be delivered at the end of the
month.
PILOTS CONTINUE
STIR
Despite the
High Court rejecting the IPG plea, its members were adamant that the agitation
will continue. “We have written to the AI management and to Aviation Ministry. But
till now, we have not got any response. Air India management has an equal
responsibility towards the staff and the travelling public,” said Captain
Tauseef Mukadam.
The Guild
attacked the Air India management and said “epitome of the mismanagement by AI
was witnessed, when Capt. Donny D'Siliva who had resigned from Air India over
three months ago received termination letter from the management following the
agitation. Capt. D'Silva had already been employed and flying with another
international airline since his resignation.”
Medical board
Meanwhile, the
Directorate-General of Civil Aviation has received a second list of 10 pilots
requesting that an Air Force Medical Board be set up to examine them. The
second list has been sent as the airline management felt the pilots were
“shaming illness,” a senior official said.
On its part,
the Ministry of Civil Aviation plans to convene a meeting of all recognised Air
India unions next week to discuss the implementation of the Dharamadhikari
report. The Committee had been set up to bring about integration of about
29,000 employees of unified Air India, including pilots, cabin crew and
engineers.
The 12-day long
pilot agitation is leading to a daily revenue loss of Rs 12-15 crore.
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