High Court says RTC union is equally responsible for TSRTC workers' death

A two-judge Division Bench of the Telangana High Court comprising Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan and Justice A Abhishek Reddy on Tuesday said the TSRTC unions were equally responsible for the suicides by RTC employees and heart attacks suffered by some during the 52-day strike period.

The Bench was hearing the public interest litigation (PIL) case related to suicides of RTC Employees. Professor PL Vishweswar Rao filed the public interest writ petition complaining of massive human tragedy in the State “as more than 30 employees died due to suicides and heart attacks.”

Rao, who admitted that he was relying on newspaper reports and a suicide note, said there was no parallel to the present situation in the trade union history. He urged the court to intervene on the issue in public interest and to direct the State



to negotiate with the striking employees to stop the suicides of TSRTC employees.

Speaking for the Bench, the Chief Justice said the Unions were equally responsible for the suicides and heart attacks. “The Unions could have called of the strike to end the suicides and hear attacks.” said the Chief Justice.

“We are living in a welfare State, the State is bound to protect its citizens and the courts have ample power to safeguard the interests of the citizens,” argued the petitioner.

He said Constitutional provisions were enshrined in such a way that a government could be questioned when it fails in its duty. The Bench directed the petitioner to amend his prayer appropriately in accordance with the relief sought and adjourned the case.