Chandigarh, Jun 23 (IANS): The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday restrained the PGIMER Employees Union from proceeding on strike or disrupting the functioning of the institute or hospital in any manner owing to the prevailing coronavirus pandemic.

Justice Arvind Singh Sangwan also directed the Deputy Commissioner and the Senior Superintendent of Police to take preventive steps to ensure that there is no violation of the court orders.

Taking a serious view of the issue, the high court made clear that in case any of the office bearers of the union(s) proceed on strike or hunger strike, they may be arrested immediately and sent in civil imprisonment.

The order comes in the wake of a contempt petition filed by the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) against Tarandeep Singh Grewal and Harbhajan Singh Bhatti, General Secretary and President of the Ministerial and Secretarial Employees Union of the PGIMER, respectively, for causing disruption amid COVID-19.

The authorities were directed to ensure maintenance of law and order and the association and union do not indulge in any illegal activity that hampers the smooth functioning of the institute.