The stir led to cancellation of 12 international flights on Friday putting hundreds of passengers to hardship in the holiday season.
The Supreme Court on Friday refused to intervene in the stir by a section of Air India pilots even as Government offered to hold talks with them if they returned to work after their standoff entered the fourth day.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was also briefed about the fresh crisis in the cash-strapped state-owned carrier by Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh, as the stir led to cancellation of 12 international flights on Friday putting hundreds of passengers to hardship in the holiday season.
Ajit Singh while appealing to the striking pilots to end their stir and seeking their cooperation ruled out imposing provisions of Essential Services Maintenance Act(ESMA) on them.
Asking the Air India management to "sort out" the problems with the striking pilots, the apex court refused to entertain its plea for initiating contempt proceedings against Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) for allegedly obstructing implementation of its order on training of pilots for Dreamliner aircraft.
A bench headed by Justice T S Thakur said they (pilots) have done nothing which amounts to contempt of court and suggested the airlines to speak with them to sort out the differences.
"They have done nothing for obstruction of justice or to bring disrepute to the court. Your problem is with them. You sit with them and sort out the differences. Don't resort to contempt proceedings," the bench said.
It further said that if the strike is illegal, then the airlines can take action against them.
Ajit Singh said all Unions have to rise above their "personal interests."
"If they want to talk, they should come to work, and all issues can be discussed...The High Court has declared their strike illegal.
We are willing to discuss with any union but they should call off the strike especially when it is vacation time. If Air India does not stay afloat, all their jobs will be at stake," Singh told reporters.
The IPG on its part ruled out returning to work unless the management takes back the pilots whose services have been terminated and their Union recognised. "The ball is in the management's court," IPG spokesperson Capt Tauseef Mukadam said.
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