In light of the 108 ambulance workers calling a strike on Diwali day, the Madras High Court was assured by the Tamil Nadu government that the emergency ambulance services will not be disrupted.
The union had called a strike demanding a hike in salary, allowances and bonus in a 27-point sheet of demands.
According to The Times of India, the Madras high court was hearing a PIL moved by S. Patrick on the 108 ambulance service being stalled during Diwali due to the strike.
The contention was that there could be dire consequences if the services were not available on Diwali day, considering that accidents could happen due to fireworks.
The First Bench of Chief Justice S.K. Kaul and Justice R. Mahadevan disposed of the PIL based on the assurance given by the government that the strike will be called off.
On a similar issue raised by V Meganathan, the court maintained that conciliation proceedings were going on and thus, as per Section 22 (i)(d) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, there can be no strike during the pendency of the conciliation proceedings.
The High Court last year said “the services provided are public utility services and thus, if there is any breach of the statutory provision, the strike will be declared illegal and the Government will take appropriate action to ensure that services are maintained.”