Jet strike continue; pilots face contempt petition

A crippling strike by Jet pilots entered the third day Thursday, as a contempt petition was filed against them for defying the Bombay High Court ruling asking them not to halt work.

According to a spokesperson, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud of the Bombay High Court has directed a contempt notice to be issued to the National Aviators Guild (NAG). It will be heard here Monday.

The management action came even as talks between the pilots and the management failed to resolve the crisis late Wednesday night and the deadlock continued. The striking pilots are demanding the re-instatement of their sacked colleagues.

On Tuesday, a division bench consisting of Chief Justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice A. M. Khanwailkar had passed an order restraining the NAG from going on an illegal strike under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.

In their ruling, the judges said that the petitioner - Jet Airways was providing a Public Utility Service as per the I.D. Act. Accordingly, the judges restrained the pilots' union from resorting to an illegal strike.

The strike has already resulted in the cancellation of nearly 450 flights all over the country and has inconvenienced over 28,000 passengers in the past two days.

On Thursday, 136 domestic flights and 31 international flights were cancelled. The government is expected to chip in Thursday to resolve the crisis. The government will also look at imposing the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) and is expected to meet the striking pilots.

The Jet management insisted that the pilots who went on mass leave should provide medical certificates of their illness. The pilots on the other hand have made it clear that they would report to work only when the five sacked pilots are taken back.