Apex court to hear plea for action against truckers

The SC on Friday decided to hear a public interest lawsuit (PIL) which sought directions to the Govt to take stern action against the striking truckers.

The Supreme Court on Friday decided to hear a public interest lawsuit (PIL) which sought directions to the government to take stern action against the striking truckers.

HT Image

A bench of Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan and Justice P Sathasivam decided to hear the PIL on Monday after petitioner Sunder Khatri, a Delhi-based advocate, apprised the bench of his petition pending in the apex court registry since January 7.

In his petition, Khatri has sought the apex court's direction to the union government to invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act and the National Security Act against the striking truckers.

Seeking cancellation of the permits of the striking truckers, Khatri argued in his petition that such strikes serve as a convenient excuse to jack up the prices of essential commodities.

He said transporters' strikes will have an adverse impact on the country's economy, already reeling under global recession.

Khatri said in his petition that the truckers, led by All India Motor Transport Corporation, have resorted to strikes violating their own agreement with the government in July last year that they would not seek any increase in toll rates for one year.

Yet the transporters' organisation raised the demand November 17 last year for reduction in prices of diesel and tyres and service taxes and eventually went on strike January 5, he said.