THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPM Kannur district secretary M V Jayarajan has come forward in sharp criticism of the high court’s order directing government employees not to strike as part of the two-day national strike. The court order barring the strike of workers and employees is unfortunate. Workers have the right to work and strike. Strike is workers’ right and not court’s generosity, said Jayarajan.

‘Why didn’t the court say that public service undertakings should not be shut down and petrol prices should be reduced?’, he asked. Barring strikes is extremely wrong. The court’s order is not suitable for a civilized society, Jayarajan said.

All, including the judges, are working in the country because we got independence. We achieved our country’s freedom through strikes. The court that barred employees’ strike might be possessed by a British ghost. The court’s voice is that of the old British Raj, he said. Courts should intervene in the issues of people’s lives, he added.

The strike was called off by the high court on the grounds that the workers have no right to strike or strike against government policies under the Kerala Service Act. A bench led by the chief justice had pointed out that according to rule 86 of the Service Act, it is illegal to strike. Following the court order directing government employees to refrain from strikes, the chief secretary had declared a dies-non last night. Meantime, the service organizations remain adamant in their decision to go on with the strike.