A Special Officer appointed by the Kolkata High Court to make an inventory of the assets of Dunlop India Ltd visited the company's factory in Ambattur today. The special officer, Mr K. Ananda Rao, who is also the Official Liquidator, High Court, Kolkata, visited the factory along with representatives of creditors who had filed a petition for recovery of dues. The inventorying work is expected to take two days, according to Dunlop Factory Employees Union representatives who accompanied the officials.

A senior executive in Dunlop, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the company was keen on restarting operations at both the factories.

Shahgunj unit

Its first priority is the Sahagunj unit at Kolkata after which it would finalise plans for the Ambattur factory.

The official said a Single Bench of the High Court had appointed an official liquidator as a part of a winding up petition filed by Dunlop's creditors. The company had appealed against the order and a Division Bench had said the official liquidator will act as a special officer and submit an inventory of the company's assets to the Court.

Workers' dues

Dunlop suspended operations at the Ambattur factory on February 21. The management had attributed the closure to unrest among the workers.

But the Dunlop Factory Employees Union and the Dunlop Anna Thozhir Sangam, which represent the 500 workers at the factory, blamed the company for not managing production and delaying wage payments.

The union representatives said the State Government Labour Department is mediating talks between the workers and the management.

The unions' priority is to ensure the management pays its dues to over 200 workers who have retired over the last two-three years.

The workers on the rolls of the company are hoping that the management either restarts the factory or makes a final settlement.

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