Government refuses to accept HC's panel proposal in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: State government has informed the High Court about its unwillingness to accept the Court proposal to constitute a High Power Committee comprising three retired Supreme Court judges to resolve the crisis hit RTC workers strike. The High Court mooted the proposal to form a committee on Tuesday and sought the State's response on it.

The government also urged the Court to refer the matter to the State Labour Court saying that it is the appropriate authority for taking further steps in the matter as provided under Section 10 of the Industrial Dispute Act, 1947.

In the affidavit, the State government's counsel said that the provision of Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 do not envisage for constituting a High Powered Committee of the former judges of the Supreme Court or any other dignitaries to reconcile the parties or to refer to adjudicate an industrial dispute.

In response to the pleadings of the State government, the senior counsel for trade unions told the Court that the HC had powers to constitute a committee. He also informed that he would place case laws on the issue as to whether the government's consent was required or not for constituting a committee.

Following this, the court posted the matter to November 18 for further hearing on the batch of Public Interest Litigations filed on the issue. After a brief argument, the court also adjourned hearing on privatisation of RTC to Thursday.