Delhi High Court asks pilots to resume work; says will speak to management on demand

The Delhi High Court on Monday asked striking Air India pilots to take a decision on resuming work, saying “this strike will not see another day.”

“You call off the strike, we will press the management to consider your demand,” said a division bench of justices B D Ahmed and Beena Birbal, while hearing a plea for initiation of contempt proceedings against the pilots who have struck work since Tuesday last.

“This strike will not see another day,” the bench observed, while asking the pilots to resume work this afternoon.

The court asked senior counsel Mr N K Kaul and Mr K T S Tulsi appearing for Indian Commercial Pilots Association and their three office bearers to seek instructions from their clients and inform it about their decision about calling off strike by 2.15 p.m, when the courts resumes hearing on the contempt plea.

During their argument’s, the counsel said the striking pilots “as of now” want the Air India management to revoke de-recognition of the ICPA and reinstate three of its office bearers, whose services were terminated last week in the wake of the strike. “Whatever be the argument, it is clear contempt. You first withdraw the strike,” the bench said.

The three ICPA office bearers, President Mr A S Bhinder, General Secretary Mr Rishabh Kapoor and Regional Secretary Mr Amitesh Ahuja, had been issued notices last Thursday by Justice Geeta Mittal seeking their explanation as to why the contempt proceeding should not be launched against them for defying court orders to resume work. The judge had also warned that ICPA property would be attached if the stir was not called off. They were asked to be present before the court today to answer the contempt charges.

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