Chennai, September 10: The Jet Airways pilots union National Aviators Guild today approached the Madras High Court to cancel permission issued to the airline to engage foreign pilots while keeping experienced and senior Indian pilots out of work.
The NAG, in two separate petitions filed on its behalf by Captain J S Krishna, also sought a direction to the Centre to monitor operations of the airline on a day-to-day basis to ensure safety of the passengers.
When the petitions were mentioned before a Division Bench comprising Justice D Murugasen and Justice M Jaichandren, the court held that the petitions were maintainable and posted them for hearing on September 16.
The NAG, however, did not press for any relief with regard to a third prayer pertaining to sacking of some pilots of the airline.
On questions of the Guild’s locus standi to file the petitions as PIL and the court’s jurisdiction to hear them, the Judges accepted the submission by senior advocate V Prakash, the petitioner’s counsel, that one petition sought a direction mainly for cancelling permission issued to the Jet Airways to engage foreign pilots in place of those being terminated.
The Bench said the petitioner was not seeking relief relating to terminations as a measure of unfair labour practice on account of formation of NAG as it could not be entertained as a PIL.
—Agencies