The Allahabad High Court has initiated contempt proceedings against the power employee’s union office bearers and issued bailable warrants against them on Friday in connection with the Uttar Pradesh power workers' strike. The court took serious note of the violation of its previous order that the power supply should not be disrupted, reported news agency PTI.
A division bench comprising Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Vinod Diwaker said, “Considering the urgency involved in the matter, bailable warrants are issued to the aforesaid office bearers of the Union by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Lucknow requiring their presence before this Court at 10:00 a.m. on 20th March, 2023 through the Vidyut Karmchari Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti having its office at 41/557, Dr. Tufail Ahamad Marg, Lohiya Mazdoor Bhawan, Narhi, Lucknow.”
The High Court said, "Such act of workers violates the direction of this court for not disrupting power supply. Even national interest is compromised on account of the reduction in the generation of power in different power-generating units of the state. Thus, prima facie, it is disobedience of this court's order dated December 6, 2022."
The court has directed the concerned state authorities to ensure that apt action, as per law, is taken against the erring employees of the electricity department. This will be done in order to ensure compliance with its previous order. The court has given the state government time till Monday to report compliance with the action taken in the matter. It added, "An affidavit of the Additional Chief Secretary of the Department concerned would be placed on record by then."
Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) has issued notices to 18 officials including the convenor of Vidyut Karmachari Sanyukta Sangharsh Samiti, Shailendra Dubey, in which it has asked them to call off the strike immediately while citing the court order.
(With inputs from PTI)