R. SUBENDER SINGH Vs. STATE OF TELANGANA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These six Writ Petitions have been filed in the nature of Public Interest Litigation ('PIL') before this Court. The petitioners, in these writ petitions, have prayed for five different reliefs:- (i) to declare the strike being observed by respondent Nos. 6 and 7 as illegal, (ii) to direct the State Government, and the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation ('the Corporation', for short), to negotiate with the trade unions, (iii) to direct the trade unions to call off the strike, (iv) to direct the State Government and the Corporation to take stern action against the trade unions, and (v) to resolve the issues between the trade unions and the Corporation.

(2.) Briefly, the facts of the case are that the on 31.08.2019, TSRTC Telangana Jathiya Mazdoor Union gave a notice to the Corporation stating that until and unless their demands are met, they propose to go on strike. Likewise, on 11.09.2019, the RTC Telangana Mazdoor Union, the respondent No. 7, gave a notice in similar terms. Considering the fact that there was a likelihood of an industrial dispute that may erupt, the proceedings under Section 12 of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 ('the Act', for short) commenced. By notice dated 16.09.2019, the Conciliation Officer directed both the trade unions, and the Corporation to appear before the Conciliation Officer. The conciliation meeting was held on 04.10.2019.

(3.) However, the conciliation proceedings failed to resolve the dispute between the Corporation, and the trade unions. On 05.10.2019, the trade unions went on strike.