HC extends order restraining Metro staff from going on strike

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Friday extended its order restraining the DMRC staff from going on strike over a number of demands, including pay-scale revision, saying huge inconvenience would be caused to commuters.

Justice Pratibha Rani extended the interim order directing the employees not to go on strike till further orders and sought their response on a plea by the DMRC seeking that they be restrained from resorting to strike.

The high court, in an exparte interim order on June 29, had restrained DMRC staff from going on their proposed strike from June 30, saying huge inconvenience would be caused to commuters.

The court on Friday issued fresh notices to some of the office bearers of DMRC staff council, who were not served earlier, and listed the matter for further hearing on September 4.

The court sought to know from Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sandeep Sethi, appearing for the DMRC, whether the petition would be infructuous now as the proposed strike date of June 30 is over.

Sethi said the petition cannot be infructuous as the employees submitted three notices that they will strike if their demands are not met.

Advocate Rajeev Mishra, appearing for some of the office bearers of the staff council, urged the court to direct the DMRC to file an affidavit that it will abide by the terms of settlement arrived at between the employer and the employees last year.