Give objections in writing: Punjab and Haryana high court to Haryana Roadways employees

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday asked the Haryana Roadways (HR) employee unions to submit their objections in writing against the state government move of hiring around 700 buses from private players.
When the matter related to strike by roadways employees in Haryana came up for resumed hearing before a division bench headed by Chief Justice Krishna Murari, the bench asked the union leaders to explain their grievances.On this, the employees unions sought one week’s time to inform the court about their grouse in writing.
The case has now been adjourned for November 29 for further hearing. While adjourning the case, the bench, however, made it clear that no coercive action shall be taken against the employees, who had resorted to strike, till the next date of hearing.
Meanwhile, a status report was submitted before the HC by R C Bidhan, director Haryana state transport department, on behalf of the state government on the issue.The HC was informed that following its November 2 directions, operation of the fleet of the buses of Haryana Roadways had become normal. He also produced the minutes of meeting held between the state government and the roadways employees’ unions on the issue.
During the meeting, which was held on November 12, the union leaders were informed that no decision had been taken by the government to privatize or minimize the transport department. Tenders had been invited for procurement of 667 buses, including 367 ordinary, 150 mini and 150 air-conditioned buses, to increase the fleet of buses.
During the meeting, the union representative informed the authorities that if 700 private buses were hired under the kilometre scheme, privatization of the department would start that would lead to unemployment in the state.
On this, the union representative were informed that a request in this regard would be made to the chief minister for resolving the situation and ending the deadlock.
“However, the coordination committee was required to come forward for an unconditional dialogue. If the coordination committee members persisted on the demand to scrap hiring of 700 buses, there would be no justification for talks at the CM level,” the officials told the union leaders.
The matter had reached HC in the wake of a public interest litigation raising concern in respect of the inconvenience being caused to the public at large in the state of Haryana on account of the strike of the roadways employees union.
However, on persuasion of the chief justice of the HC, the employees had agreed to end their strike from November 3.