HC: Jet can’t withdraw contempt plea

Although the Jet pilot’s strike was called off after the airline and the pilots resolved their differences amicably, the Bombay High Court is not permitting the airline to withdraw the contempt petition it had filed against the striking pilots.

Although the Jet pilot’s strike was called off after the airline and the pilots resolved their differences amicably, the Bombay High Court is not permitting the airline to withdraw the contempt petition it had filed against the striking pilots.

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On September 8, when pilots went on a mass sick leave, Jet had moved the high court seeking restraint on the strike. The Chief Justice had directed the agitating pilots to resume duty on September 8, in an interim order.

But after the resolution between the parties on September 13, the airline wanted to withdraw the petition.

However, taking a stern view of the inconvenience caused to lakhs of passengers, the HC has refused to allow this stating that by striking, the pilots had violated the order of the Chief Justice. Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, while asking the
National Aviators’ Guild (NAG) to file its reply to Jet’s contempt petition, said: “Someone comes to the court and then settles score with the other party. You can’t arm twist the court. They must know that there is one authority (court) they cannot manipulate in such a manner.”