KOCHI: A division bench of the Kerala High Court stayed the indefinite strike called by trade unions of Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) from Wednesday midnight. The court asked all KSRTC trade unions to participate in the conciliatory meeting to be held on Thursday. The case will be considered again on Tuesday. The court had earlier asked to prolong the strike and asked why seeking other ways when there are legal solutions. The proposed strike was illegal as it was violative of the provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act. A bench led chief justice passed on a public interest litigation filed by Centre for Consumer Education seeking to declare the strike illegal.

The government as well as KSRTC managing director Tomin J Thachankary had informed the court that the conciliatory talks held today had failed. Thachankary is responsible to know the problems of employees and why a delay occurred on the conciliatory talks, asked the court. The managing director’s stand on the issue is not correct. The employees can only approach the management seeking a solution on their issue. It is the management who has to arrange a venue for talks and find a solution for their problems, the court said.

Thachankary held talks with trade union leaders. The government had approved many of the demands of the striking unions. If they don’t withdraw from the strike, further steps will be taken after consulting with the government. Various unions of KSRTC jointly decided to go on an indefinite strike from this midnight. The demands voiced are to execute the single duty pattern submitted by transport secretary, start talks on salary revision and reinstate terminated empanelled employees. Centre for consumer education had filed a plea in the court against the strike.