Court fails to break pilots strike deadlock
May 2nd, 2011 - 10:51 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, May 2 (IANS) “Do you think public opinion is with you?” the Delhi High Court Monday asked striking pilots of national carrier Air India while hearing criminal contempt proceedings against the pilots union office bearers for ignoring a court stay order on the strike.
“When the court has passed the order to restrain the ongoing strike from April 29 onwards, then you should have followed it. We can’t allow undermining of the institutional order,” said the divisional bench of Justice B.D. Ahmed and Justice Veena Birbal.
The court also asked the pilots to call off their strike immediately, terming it as a disservice to the nation.
“By your act of agitation, you have caused loss to the nation,” said Justice Ahmed, asking the pilots: “Is it worth that thousands should suffer, just due to eight persons. Do you think the public opinion is with you?”
Ignoring the court’s plea again, the agitating pilots Monday refused to call off the strike until their demands are fulfilled, but showed some willingness to resolve the matter if Air India management took up their issues within 24 hours.
“We will immediately call off the strike if the management takes up two of our demands - of restoring recognition status of ICPA (Indian Commercial Pilots Association) and reinstating the sacked pilots,” counsel for the pilots union informed the court.
The court will take the matter for further hearing Tuesday.
If found guilty by the court, the top brass of the union faces a possible six-month jail for contempt of court.
The court of Justice Gita Mittal Friday initiated criminal contempt of court proceedings against members of ICPA, the union behind the strike and whose members were on the payroll of the erstwhile Indian Airlines.
Air India has some 1,600 pilots on its rolls and operates some 320 flights daily.
The strike, which started Tuesday midnight, has since caused cancellation and re-scheduling of around 700 flights and a revenue loss of Rs.58 crore.
On Monday, close to 165 flights were cancelled, as the pilot’s strike continued for the sixth day with nearly half of Air India’s 1,600 pilots on strike.
According to the official, the flag carrier’s international operations were also affected with the cancellation of 43 flights bound for foreign destinations like London, Dubai and Kathmandu.
- Air India cancels 165 flights as pilots continue strike - May 02, 2011
- Nine striking pilots served contempt of court notice - May 03, 2011
- Court livid as Air India pilots' stir grounds 185 more flights - May 03, 2011
- Air India strike grounds 1,100 flights, loss mounts to Rs.85 crore - May 04, 2011
- Air India pilots told to apologize - Aug 05, 2011
- Pilots strike enters seventh day, ICPA writes to PM - May 03, 2011
- Pilots' strike will not see another day, rules Delhi High Court - May 02, 2011
- Air India pilots apologise to Delhi court, nation - May 25, 2011
- Second round of talks between Govt. and striking pilots today - May 05, 2011
- Pilots strike: Delhi HC issues contempt notice to nine ICPA officers - May 03, 2011
- Court to hear petition against striking Air India pilots - May 02, 2011
- AI Pilots strike enters fourth day, domestic operations severely hit - Apr 30, 2011
- 90 percent of Air India flights crippled, management urges talks (Roundup) - May 01, 2011
- Air India cancels 90 percent domestic flights on sixth day of pilots' strike - May 03, 2011
- Air India pilots strike: Stand off continues, 100 flights cancelled - Apr 29, 2011
Tags: air india, carrier air, commercial pilots, contempt of court, contempt proceedings, court proceedings, criminal contempt, deadlock, delhi high court, disservice, indian airlines, mittal, national carrier, pilots association, pilots strike, pilots union, recognition status, striking pilots, top brass, veena