Solve RTC strike : HC asks Labour Commissioner

Hyderabad: After prolonged hearings and making several observations on the ongoing strike by TSRTC employees, the Telangana High Court on Monday directed the Labour Commissioner to find a solution to the 45-day-old strike in two weeks.

Vindicating the government stand, the division Bench headed by Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan has observed that the court has its own limitations in dealing with the issue and clarified that they cannot rule that the RTC strike is illegal or not.

At the same time, they also cannot pressurise the state government to hold talks with the RTC JAC as it will be futile.

The parleys should be held between the two contending parties across the table voluntarily in an amicable manner, the Bench felt.

Earlier, Additional Advocate-General Ramachander Rao submitted to the court that the RTC management cannot concede to the demands of the RTC employees.

He argued that the employees' JAC did not follow the rules and went on lightning strike which was totally illegal.

He also pointed out to the court that the state government has extended maximum assistance financially to the Road Transport Corporation as it was embedded in huge losses.

As the corporation's financial condition was very bad, it cannot meet the financial demands of the employees. As the RTC has lost 44 per cent of revenue so far due to the lightning strike, the management cannot hold talks with the striking employees.

The Additional Advocate General further argued that even if the JAC leaders dropped their main demand temporarily, they might rake up the issue once again any time putting the Corporation and the state government in a piquant situation.

He also said that some JAC leaders were pushing the Corporation into losses with selfish interests. He also submitted to the court that some employees' union leaders joined hands with some leaders of Opposition parties with an intention to destabilise the government.

Advocate Jayaprakash Reddy, representing the RTC JAC, submitted to the court that the striking crew was ready to call off the strike and resume duties.

He pleaded with the court to direct the management and the state government to allow the staff to resume their duties. But the RTC MD, in his affidavit, told the court that the management was not willing to take back the

employees.