On June 1, the single judge quashed Air India’s determination to terminate the services of several pilots and refusal to take the withdrawal of their resignations
Delhi high court
- The Delhi high court on Friday will pronounce its judgment on a bunch of pleas by Air India against a single judge order mandating the reinstatement of over 40 permanent and contractual pilots whose benefits were terminated last year on account of commercial letup in the wake of the Covid-induced lockdown.
On June 1, the single judge stopped Air India’s determination to terminate the services of several pilots and refusal to take the withdrawal of their resignations.
The court had told that the back wages, including allowances, have to be delivered at par with what in-service pilots were accepting and following the government laws.
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The terminated pilots had initially moved the court in July last year seeking directions to Air India to get the withdrawal of the resignations tendered by them.
Some pilots had initially tendered their resignations over the delay by Air India in disbursing pay and allowances.
Pilots moved to the high court
- On August 13, 2020, Air India issued termination letters to several pilots including those who wanted to withdraw their resignations following which, the pilots moved to the high court.
Challenging the single judge’s order, Air India argued that once a pilot tenders resignation, the legal connection of an employer-employee arrives in an end with it and the resignation cannot be withdrawn thereafter.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing Air India, had contended that under the relevant law, there is no requirement for formal approval of resignation by the national carrier and that the six-month notice period post-resignation is only to avoid any hardship to the passengers.
Air India, which has been recently sold to the Tatas, earlier cited financial constraints and the impact of Covid-19 on the commercial functioning of the company for the termination before the single judge.
A division bench of Justices Rajiv Shakdher and Talwant Singh had reserved its order on October 29 and will pronounce its verdict on Friday.
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Source: Hindustan Times
