Air India seeks review of Delhi high court order on opening union offices

The Air India today filed a petition before the Delhi high court seeking review of its previous order directing the airline to open the locks of the offices of its employees' union which were sealed after a flash strike a month ago.

Issuing notice to the Air Corporation Employees Union (ACEU), Justice Mool Chand Garg sought the union's response by July 7 on the review petition filed by National Aviation Company of India Ltd (NACIL).

Appearing for Air India, counsel Lalit Bhasin argued that the office bearers of the union should not be allowed to sit in the premises as they misuse the premises and create nuisance against the airlines.

The lawyer argued that the office premises of employees' union in various parts of the country were sealed after the union was de-recognised claiming that the recognition of the union is not covered by any statute and it could be withdrawn at any time.

On June 28, the court had stayed Air India's May 27 order sealing the union offices subsequent to an order de-recognising the union and also sacked 58 employees in an unprecedented crackdown.

The members of ACEU and All India Aircraft Engineers' Association (AIAEA) had gone on a flash strike on May 25 to protest a 'gag order' directing them to refrain from making public statements and harming the image of the company after the May 22 Mangalore air crash.