The Delhi High Court today said the striking pilots of Air India have no right to get training on advanced Boeing 777 to be used in international flights.

Refusing to hear an Air India appeal against the single judge’s May 11 order, a Bench of Acting Chief Justice, Mr A.K. Sikri, and Mr Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw said “let them call off the strike, we will then hear the matter.”

The order had stayed the training of more pilots till the implementation of Justice Dharmadhikari panel recommendations on the issue.

The High Court, however, refused to disturb the ongoing training of the Air India pilots.

“So long as they (Air India pilots) are on strike, the court is not inclined to hear the matter. They cannot go on strike as well as get training simultaneously,” the Bench said pulling up the Air India management for seeking the court’s intervention for giving training to the pilots who are on strike.

The Bench, while posting the matter for hearing in July, made it clear that if the pilots call off their strike, they can file an application for hearing the matter.

“As they are on strike, they have no right to get any training. If the strike is called off they can move an application for hearing of the matter,” the court said.

The order came after Air India’s counsel, Mr Lalit Bhasin, submitted to the court that the single judge was wrong in staying the training being imparted to the Air India Pilots for Boeing 777.

He also submitted that staying the training will cause huge financial loss and the advance flight will be grounded.

According to Air India, 200 Commanders (chief pilots and 200 First Officer (co-pilots) need to undergo training for Boeing 777 but at present only 64 Commanders and 62 co-pilots are undergoing training.

To Mr Bhasin’s submissions, the court wanted to know whether the Air India Pilots are on strike and getting training at the same time.

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