RTC strike: HC keeps the plight of the common man at centre stage

Hyderabad: Keeping the plight of the common man as its central focus, the Telangana High Court has given specific direction to the Government and the RTC management to hold talks with the striking unions to consider at least half of their demands seriously. "It is hoped by 28-10-2019 both parties will be able to inform this Court that they have succeeded in their negotiations so as to end the misery of the common man", it stated.

The Division Bench, comprising of Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan and Justice A. Abhishek Reddy, passed an Order to this effect during the last hearing on the PIL petition, the order copy of which was delivered on Tuesday to the parties. Acutely aware of the limitations of its judicial power, the Bench, however, asserted its concern with regard to the plight of the common man and it "would endeavour that the parties should negotiate to resolve their disputes amicably and expeditiously. After all, while the parties are at loggerheads, it is the men, women and children of the State who continue to suffer."

The Bench gently reminded the State Government that "it is not only bound to look after the needs of the workers but is also morally bound and constitutionally bound to cater to the needs and requirements of the people at large. Therefore, the State should ensure that the warring parties are brought to the negotiating table."

It made clear that the Road Transport Corporation is nothing but an instrumentality of the State under Article 12 and it is bound by the provisions of the Constitution. Lest they have forgotten, the Bench reminded both the State and the Corporation of the fact that "We the people of India" have constituted the nation into a socialist, democratic republic. It also reminded that Article 21 of the Constitution of India (right to life) has been held to be the heart and soul of the Constitution of India by the Hon'ble Supreme Court.

Hyderabad: Keeping the plight of the common man as its central focus, the Telangana High Court has... Read more 👇https://t.co/XlOCkKUVN7#telanganahighcourt #rtc #stategovernment #TSRTC #TSRTCStrike #Hyderabad #Telangana

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The Bench enumerated nearly half of the demands being raised by the striking employees and showed how they were just and did not have any financial implication on the Corporation if those demands are met. It wanted the talks to take place around these demands to build confidence among the parties in the dispute.