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.