Telangana HC asks TSRTC MD to talk to agitating unions

A two-Judge Bench of the Telangana High Court comprising Chief Justice Raghvendra Singh Chauhan and Justice A Abhishek Reddy on Friday directed the TSRTC management to initiate conciliation proceedings with the RTC unions and submit a report by October 28.

The Bench was hearing a public interest litigation case filed by Subedhar Singh, a student, questioning the inaction of the State in stopping the ongoing strike by employees of TSRTC.

The State informed the Bench that negotiations did not take place. Additional Advocate General Ramchander Rao stated that conciliation proceedings have to be initiated by the Corporation and the employees’ unions. He pointed out that once conciliation is taken up under Industrial Disputes Act, the law prohibits other ways of settlement. The Bench, however, disagreed with the interpretation of the Act by the State.

When questioned if the merger of the corporation with the government was the main issue for the unions, senior counsel Prakash Reddy, appearing for the RTC unions, clarified that while merger was a demand of the unions, it was not a pre-condition for negotiations with the government to end the strike.

When the Bench sought a reply on why a Managing Director for TSRTC was not appointed as directed by the Court, Ramchander Rao said the present in-charge MD was addressing the issue. “What stops the State from appointing the present in-charge as the MD?” the Bench asked, adding: “We are not questioning the efficiency but the present state of affairs indicates that the issue has not been handled well so far.”

Earlier, the Chief Justice pointed out



to various provisions of the Constitution and other laws that were contrary to the plea that the management was stopped from negotiating with the striking unions.

The Bench read out all the demands raised by the RTC unions and observed that demands such as reimbursement of medical bills, increase of doctors, beds and discrepancy in RTC hospital, supply of tools and spare parts, issuing guidelines, fixing running time, allowance for uniforms, maternity leave of 6 months for women were basic and fundamental issues that have no financial ramifications to concede to.

The court said even demands that have financial ramifications such as issuing white ration cards, eligibility for medical treatment under Aarogyasri scheme, Aasara pension scheme, recruitment in eligible posts, among others, were basic requirements which are fair and reasonable.

It was then that the Additonal AG informed the court that the unions were not willing to come forward until their demand for merger of the corporation with the government was conceded.

Prakash Reddy informed the Court that he had contacted the Advocate General and Additional Advocate General to initiate talks, besides convincing the unions also to step forward and negotiate. But he was told by Ramachandra Rao that there can be no negotiations, he contended before the court.

The Additional AG, when asked by the court if the State was willing for negotiations, said the issue had reached a point where even the law does not permit talks. He further stated that labour court will have to take a decision now.