The government on Wednesday offered to take back 101 sacked Air India pilots on a case-by-case basis and appealed afresh to the protesters to return to work.
The step seems to be an attempt to end the over-two-week impasse even as the Delhi high court slapped contempt notices on 67 pilots and their union for disobeying its orders.
“There is no bar on taking anybody back but it will be done on a case by case basis,” civil aviation minister Ajit Singh said. “We have said repeatedly that we are willing to talk and I have committed to that in Parliament. There will be no victimisation but they are not willing to talk unconditionally. It is an illegal strike,” Mr Singh said. The minister pointed out that Air India management was taking “whatever action they need to take”.
With the pilots refusing to join work, the AI management moved a contempt petition in the high court accusing them of “flagrant violation” of the court order that had declared the strike illegal.
Issuing notices to 67 pilots and the Indian Pilots Guild, spearheading the agitation by over 200 pilots, now for 16 days, Justice Reva Khetrapal hoped better sense would prevail on them.
Meanwhile, the IPG made known its willingness for talks at their second press conference. “We are absolutely ready to talk to the honourable minister. We are willing to go right now,” IPG joint secretary Tauseef Mukadam said.
Asked about the “way out”, he said, “We don’t want our core demands to be met right now. Take back the pilots and give us an assurance that these demands will be discussed. We are willing to join duty right now. It can be done in 15 minutes,” Mr Mukadam said.