New Delhi: Even as the Delhi High
Court on Monday pulled up the Air India
management for delaying reinstatement of the 101 sacked commanders out of
the 450 striking pilots, the government remains firm that restoration of jobs
of the terminated pilots would be on a case-to-case basis.
The court has asked Air India to seek direction from the Centre and respond by Wednesday (July 18) on whether the committee set up to look into the reinstatement of sacked pilots can resolve the issue within four weeks.
One of the members of the Indian Pilots Guild, the union that went on strike on May 7, said the court accused Air India of "sitting on conciliatory proceedings," adding that it was a very good day for them.
However, the government remains stiff on its earlier stance that the cases of pilots will be looked into individually. "Air India has been asked to respond on considering reinstatement of sacked pilots. Consideration doesn't mean taking everyone back," a senior official from the civil aviation ministry told ET .
Such a response comes in the wake of government's plan to rationalise Air India's international operations further, leading to a reduction in the total number of pilots for overseas routes by 40%.
"There were a total of 750 pilots for flying on international routes before the strike and we never needed so many. Now the requirement is for only 400-450 pilots as per our new plan," another official from the aviation ministry said. During the nearly two-month-long strike, the AI management had sacked 101 of the 450 pilots and currently the agitators and the company are negotiating over how to reinstate them.
Sector players say the airline is not only using this opportunity to cut excess flab but also send out a message that the government will be tough on those who jeopardise operations, especially at a time when the airline is struggling to stay afloat and has just received Rs 30,000-crore bailout funds.
According to Air India officials, it's not just the fact that the airline would now require fewer pilots, but many of them also stand to lose their licences if they are unable to clear the medical tests the company plans to put them through.
"Pilots who have claimed sickness for two months have been asked to submit medical reports. But verification of the two-month long sickness and related tests and reports may catch pilots on the wrong foot," a company official said on anonymity.
As per Rule 42 (2) of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, the holder of a licence shall not exercise the privileges of his licence without being declared fit after a fresh medical examination in the event of his having "a sickness or injury involving incapacity for a period of fifteen days or more for which he is licensed..." According to a letter by the Director-General of Medical Services (Air), prescribing the procedure on sickness examination, the medical department of Air India will apply for a no-objection certificate (NOC) to Director of Medical Services at DGCA for each pilot.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/air-india-crisis-government-in-no-mood-to-reinstate-all-sacked-pilots/articleshow/15011610.cmsThe court has asked Air India to seek direction from the Centre and respond by Wednesday (July 18) on whether the committee set up to look into the reinstatement of sacked pilots can resolve the issue within four weeks.
One of the members of the Indian Pilots Guild, the union that went on strike on May 7, said the court accused Air India of "sitting on conciliatory proceedings," adding that it was a very good day for them.
However, the government remains stiff on its earlier stance that the cases of pilots will be looked into individually. "Air India has been asked to respond on considering reinstatement of sacked pilots. Consideration doesn't mean taking everyone back," a senior official from the civil aviation ministry told ET .
Such a response comes in the wake of government's plan to rationalise Air India's international operations further, leading to a reduction in the total number of pilots for overseas routes by 40%.
"There were a total of 750 pilots for flying on international routes before the strike and we never needed so many. Now the requirement is for only 400-450 pilots as per our new plan," another official from the aviation ministry said. During the nearly two-month-long strike, the AI management had sacked 101 of the 450 pilots and currently the agitators and the company are negotiating over how to reinstate them.
Sector players say the airline is not only using this opportunity to cut excess flab but also send out a message that the government will be tough on those who jeopardise operations, especially at a time when the airline is struggling to stay afloat and has just received Rs 30,000-crore bailout funds.
According to Air India officials, it's not just the fact that the airline would now require fewer pilots, but many of them also stand to lose their licences if they are unable to clear the medical tests the company plans to put them through.
"Pilots who have claimed sickness for two months have been asked to submit medical reports. But verification of the two-month long sickness and related tests and reports may catch pilots on the wrong foot," a company official said on anonymity.
As per Rule 42 (2) of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, the holder of a licence shall not exercise the privileges of his licence without being declared fit after a fresh medical examination in the event of his having "a sickness or injury involving incapacity for a period of fifteen days or more for which he is licensed..." According to a letter by the Director-General of Medical Services (Air), prescribing the procedure on sickness examination, the medical department of Air India will apply for a no-objection certificate (NOC) to Director of Medical Services at DGCA for each pilot.
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