Pilots' sacking; AI withdraws proposal after IPG seeks changes

The management had assured the High Court that sympathetic consideration would be given on the issue of reinstatement of sacked pilots who withdrew their 58 day-old strike on July three.

During the proceedings today, Lalit Bhasin, counsel for the management, said the new conditions put by the pilots, who were seeking inclusion of a retired judge in a committee formed to deal with the reinstatement issue, were not acceptable.

"I am also withdrawing the proposal (for sympathetic consideration) and let the (civil) suit continue," Bhasin said responding to the options provided to the national carrier by the court to either have an independent committee or keep the the suit pending till the termination issue is resolved by the AI internal committee.

Rejecting the pilots' proposal, Bhasin said, "we have already constituted a high-powered committee consisting of two Board-level Directors and one Executive Director to look into the cases based on appeals received from the pilots. No one from outside would be allowed as it is our internal matter."

"This is a bargain. We have taken disciplinary action against them," he said noting that a division of the High Court had declared the pilots' strike as illegal.

To this, Justice Khetrapal observed, "They (pilots) are not in a position to bargain. You (Bhasin) have a duty towards your client but you also owe a duty towards the court and the society at large and you have to adopt a fair approach" .

The court, which asked the AI to release some money to the pilots for the period prior to the time they went on strike, adjourned the hearing to July 23 when the pilots and the national carrier would apprise the court about their stand in the pending case.