HC warns striking pilots of property attachment
The striking Air India pilots were on Thursday warned by the Delhi High Court that the property of their trade union ICPA would be attached if they did not return to work immediately.
The striking Air India pilots were on Thursday warned by the Delhi High Court that the property of their trade union ICPA would be attached if they did not return to work immediately.
"There is no exception. If you do not comply, I have no choice but to pass an order, including attachment of (ICPA) property", said Justice Geeta Mittal reacting to the refusal by the pilots to call off their strike.
The remarks by an exasperated Justice Mittal came when ICPA counsel Sanjay Ghosh told her that he had met the agitating pilots yesterday and tried to convince them to resume work "but owing to the management's attitude, they are not ready to relent."
Castigating the striking pilots for defying its order to immediately call off the agitation, Justice Mittal issued notices to ICPA's office-bearers seeking replies why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against them.
Justice Geeta Mittal issued notices to President AS Bhinder, General Secretary Rishabh Kapoor and Regional Secretary Amitesh Ahuja of Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) and asked them to be present before her on next date of hearing on Monday to answer the contempt charge.
Justice Mittal issued notices to striking pilots on an urgent plea by Air India authorities, seeking launch of contempt of court proceedings against them for not resuming work as per the yesterday's order of the court.
The ICPA said the striking pilots were in such a disturbed mental condition that forcing them to operate flights would amount to putting passengers' lives in danger.
"In such a disturbed mental state, how can we operate flights and put the passengers' lives in danger"? argued Ghosh.