Air India pilots say sorry for strike,HC drops contempt charge

A division bench of Justices B D Ahmad and Veena Birbal deemed it right to discharge the nine leaders of the April-May agitation of the contempt of court charge after the president of the association said sorry and assured them that there would be no instance of court orders being disobeyed by pilots.

Noting that the pilots could never make good the Rs 250-crore loss to the country because of the strike,the bench observed that it was sufficient that they had tendered unconditional apology and had assured no repetition of the impugned conduct.

“In view of the convenience caused to the general public,nine respondents (pilot leaders) will jointly publish an apology to general public,regretting inconvenience caused to them because of their action,in newspapers within 10 days,” the bench said.

“It is also being made clear that no explanation for their conduct will be provided in the publication and it will also be mentioned that their apology has come in pursuant to the assurance given to the court,” the bench added.