HC gives RTC staff 24 hours
The High Court has given a day’s time to the RTC recognised unions to withdraw the strike, calling it ‘illegal’.
Cautioning striking RTC employees that they would face serious consequences if they failed to comply with the court, a vacation bench of the Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday gave 24 hours to them to call off their strike.
The bench comprising Justice K.C. Bhanu and Justice M.S.K. Jaiswal, while hearing two petitions by Telugu Desam leader C.L. Venkat Rao and Chittoor district resident G. Mohd Ghouse, seeking to declare the ongoing strike of RTC staff as illegal, said, “It is not a mere issue between the employees and an employer. People are suffering on account of this strike and hence this is a public interest issue.”
C.V. Mohan Reddy, senior counsel appearing for Mr Venkat Rao, contended that since the court held that the strike was prima facie illegal and had directed striking employees to resume their duties, the workers and their unions should have listened to the court.
He told the court that since they did not obey the orders of the court, they had no right to be heard by the court.
Despite several rounds of discussions between the RTC management and government officials, there was no breakthrough even on Day 7 of the RTC unions strike. The strike will continue on Wednesday. However, the High Court has given a day’s time to the RTC recognised unions to withdraw the strike, calling it ‘illegal’. RTC employees have been asked to resume duty on Wednesday.
Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, meanwhile, has asked officials to ensure that adequate alternate arrangements are in place for students appearing for Eamcet on Thursday.
The CM entrusted the responsibility to chief secretary to get in touch with district collectors and make alternate transport arrangements. On the seventh day of the strike, 45 per cent operations in Telangana and 60 per cent operations in AP were achieved. Even as extensive discussions were on by the Cabinet sub-committee, RTC unions said that since the court has granted them one day’s time, the strike will continue on Day 8, in demand of a 43 per cent fitment. The unions had earlier sought two-day time from the court, but the High Court agreed to only one day. President of RTC employees’ union Chandrashekhar Reddy said that the strike will continue on Wednesday, as the court has given time till Wednesday.
The Telangana cabinet sub-committee submitted a report to the CM suggesting ways to solve the present crisis. There were no talks held with the unions on Tuesday too.
Meanwhile, AP subcommittee requested the unions to withdraw the strike and has called the unions for a fresh round of talks on Wednesday.
AP transport minister Sidda Raghava Rao, meanwhile urged unions to call off the strike and then come for talks. Also, the RTC authorities have set up two emergency numbers — 9959226160 and 9959226154 — for Eamcet aspirants.