Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Apr 21: The high court on Tuesday August 20 told the striking transport employees that this is not the right time to indulge in stir as coronavirus infection is wreaking havoc. It advised the agitating employees to resume bus services and help the people who are reeling under the influence of the pandemic.

Public interest litigations filed by several people including Samarpana Trust, T Srinivas, advocate, Natraj Sharma etc came up for hearing before a division bench of the high court of Chief Justice A S Oka and Justice Suraj Govindaraj. After hearing arguments from both the sides, the court issued notice to Karnataka State Road Transport Employees Union and posted the next hearing to April 22. The bench hoped that by then the union will respond to the people's plight and restart transport services. It also opined that striking work violates article 21 of the constitution.

Honorary president of the union, Kodihalli Chandrashekhar, said in a press conference held on Tuesday that a decision will be taken on the continuance of the strike after studying the court order. He said a decision would be announced on Wednesday.

KSRTC has so far dismissed 376 employees and suspended 1,937 employees relating to the strike.