High Court slams protesting pilots

The Delhi High Court on Thursday came down heavily on protesting Air India pilots for defying its order to resume work as the national carrier management moved the court seeking contempt proceedings against the pilots.

Justice Gita Mittal slammed the pilots during a brief hearing of the contempt plea. “What is your defence with regard to non-compliance of yesterday’s order to call off the strike?,” Justice Mittal asked Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association counsel Sanjay Ghosh.

“You have breached the court’s order. It is very serious,” Justice Mittal said.

The counsel for the ICPA sought to defend the pilots,saying they were “disturbed” and forcing them to operate flights would amount to putting “passengers’ lives in danger”. The judge,however,said: “There is no exception. If you do not comply,I have no choice but to pass an order,including attachment of (ICPA) property.”