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The Kerala High Court on Wednesday directed the Central Government and the Cochin Port Trust authorities to retain the Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal at Willingdon Island for a further period of three months for handling domestic cargo, instead of the earlier proposal to shift it to the new Vallarpadam terminal.
Mr Justice P.N. Ravindran also recorded that the undertaking of the trade unions representing the striking workers that they were withdrawing the strike.
Interim measure
The court said that as an interim measure in order to bring the striking workers back to the negotiating table, the RGCT should be retained at Willingdon Island.
Loss of jobs
The counsel for the trade unions also submitted that the workers would go back to the negotiating table if the terminal was retained at Willingdon Island.
The court also directed that the Union Government, the Kerala Government and the port trust authorities to address the concern expressed by the trade unions over the loss of job of 1,000 workers, in consultation with India Gateway Terminal Private Ltd.
The unions feared that workers would lose job once the terminal was shifted to Vallarpadam.
The court gave the directives while disposing of a writ petition filed by the Seafood Exporters Association of India, Mangala Seafood Exim Private Ltd, and Kitex Garments Ltd.
To clear back-log
The association sought a directive to the Cochin Port Trust to immediately dispatch the 129 containers of marine/seafood products lying in the dock due the strike by a section of the employees of the Steamer Agents Association and United Stevedores Association.
The petitioners pointed out that the workers went on a strike without giving any advance notice.
Seafood containers
The strike had brought to a halt the functioning of the terminal at the port. The goods sent to the terminal still remained in the port.
As many as 129 containers of seafood worth Rs 39 crore could not be delivered due to the strike.
The court observed that once the operation of the terminal recommenced, the CPT could take steps to ensure that the goods in the port were despatched.
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