HC restrains NLC workers from going on strike

The High Court of Madras on Wednesday restrained agitating workers of the Neyveli Lignite Corporation from going on strike. The various workers unions of the thermal utility had announced going on an indefinite strike starting tonight against the Centres decision to divest its shares.

The NLC management had approached the court seeking to restrain trade unions from striking,but the single bench only issued notices to the unions. Moving a writ appeal,the management argued that such a strike as announced would be detrimental to the interests of the state and its people by depriving them of 580 MW of power.

The unions should have explored the statutory provisions in the Industrial Disputes Act before declaring the strike,it said.

The first bench comprising acting chief justice Rajesh Kumar Agrawal and justice T Raja granted the injunction today,issuing notice to 17 trade union organisations.

Taking into consideration the entire facts and circumstances of the case,we hereby… restrain unions from going on indefinite strike from the midnight of July3/July 4 or any date thereafter,till the proceedings before the Conciliation Officer are conducted. directed the bench,posting the next hearing after two weeks.