The Delhi High Court today asked Air India and its pilots, who are on strike for nearly two months over their demands relating to career progression, to amicably settle the issue out of court. The court also said the airline should adopt a “parental attitude“.

Justice Reva Khetrapal asked the counsel, appearing for the national carrier, as well as the pilots to inform by tomorrow if there was any possibility to settle the dispute by the parties out of court.

“You counsel can sit together, then talk to your clients and inform the court tomorrow if there is any possibility of settlement,” Justice Khetrapal said.

“We would like to see the matter settled. We want to see Air India prosper as the best airline in the world and the airline should adopt a parental attitude...,” the court said.

The court was hearing an application filed through counsel Sanjiv Sahay by the Indian Pilots Guild (IGP), the pilots union, seeking a direction to the management to reinstate the sacked pilots and also revoke the order that derecognises the union.

Filing the application, the pilots’ association said the pilots are ready to resume duties but the management has created a “hostile” situation forcing them to go on hunger strike.

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