HC Directs TSRTC To Begin Talks With Staff Tomorrow

The Telangana High Court on Friday directed the TSRTC management to invite the striking RTC employees' representatives on Saturday at 10:30 am and commence negotiations to resolve the strike.

The management was also directed to ensure that the process of discussions to settle the demands of the employees was completed in ten days, and that a report was presented to the High Court on or before October 28.

Asserting that the strike concerned not just the employees or the government but all the people of the State, and needed to end very soon, the court directed the TSRTC management to at least negotiate on the demands that did not have any financial implications (the court pointed out that 26 of the 45+ demands had no financial implications). Why couldn't the employees be provided with health insurance, and why weren't there any medicines available in the RTC hospital at Tarnaka, the court sought to know.

It also advised the RTC employees to call off the strike immediately.

Earlier the court took a very serious view of the state government not showing any intent to resolve the fortnight-long strike, and once again came down heavily on the TRS government for its "adamant attitude" in refusing to negotiate with the striking employees.

When asked why the government had not taken steps to appoint a Managing Director for the TSRTC which could have helped in initiating a dialogue with the employees, the government counsel observed that the government could ill afford that due to the severe financial crunch. Moreover the present Transport Secretary was an experienced officer and was capable of dealing with the issue, he said. Then why not make the Transport Secretary the MD, the court asked, for which the counsel reportedly had no response.

The court also asked the counsel representing the government what steps the government had taken to ensure that people were not subjected to hardships due to the Telangana bandh called for by the RTC employees tomorrow. The counsel replied that the administration had taken all the required measures to ensure that the bandh would in no way affect normal life.

The RTC employees have meanwhile asserted that the state-wide bandh that they called for on Saturday would be seen through even if talks started. All the trade unions and even private taxis have reportedly extended their support to the bandh.