Allaying fears of 108 ambulance service strike on the day of Diwali, the Tamil Nadu government told the Madras high court that appropriate action would be taken to maintain the public utility service.
A submission to this effect was made before the first bench of Madras high court on Wednesday, when a PIL filed by S Patrick of Egmore came up for hearing. The PIL was filed on the basis of media reports that ambulance employees had resolved to stay off work on the Diwali day over salary and bonus payment issues.
The first bench refrained from passing any orders on the matter, after the assurance was given by the government, but remarked that it had been happening every year. In fact, it disposed of the PIL saying last year's orders of the bench on the matter would be applicable now as well.
Last year, facing a similar PIL filed by V Meganathan, the bench had recorded the government pleader's statement that conciliation proceedings were going on with employees, and that under Section 22 (i)(d) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, there could be no strike during the pendency of conciliation proceedings. Ambulances are a public utility service and if there is any breach of the statutory provision, the strike will be declared illegal and the government will take appropriate action to ensure that services are maintained, he said.
Noting that no directions are required in view of the government pleader's assurance in court, the judges said, "It appears to be becoming an annual event on the anvil of Diwali."
A submission to this effect was made before the first bench of Madras high court on Wednesday, when a PIL filed by S Patrick of Egmore came up for hearing. The PIL was filed on the basis of media reports that ambulance employees had resolved to stay off work on the Diwali day over salary and bonus payment issues.
The first bench refrained from passing any orders on the matter, after the assurance was given by the government, but remarked that it had been happening every year. In fact, it disposed of the PIL saying last year's orders of the bench on the matter would be applicable now as well.
Last year, facing a similar PIL filed by V Meganathan, the bench had recorded the government pleader's statement that conciliation proceedings were going on with employees, and that under Section 22 (i)(d) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, there could be no strike during the pendency of conciliation proceedings. Ambulances are a public utility service and if there is any breach of the statutory provision, the strike will be declared illegal and the government will take appropriate action to ensure that services are maintained, he said.
Noting that no directions are required in view of the government pleader's assurance in court, the judges said, "It appears to be becoming an annual event on the anvil of Diwali."