Air India-Indian Airlines merger: Supreme Court agrees to examine issues arising out of it

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today decided to hear the cross-appeals filed by Air India Management and workers union against the order of the Bombay High Court which dealt with various contentious issues arising out of the Justice Dharmadhikari report on the merger of the erstwhile Indian Airlines and Air India.

A bench headed by Chief Justice R M Lodha sought their responses within six weeks and posted the matter for hearing after 10 weeks.

The bench, also comprising justices Kurian Joseph and R F Nariman, made it clear that various observations made by the High Cout would be subject to the outcome of the special leave petitions.

The High Court had dealt with the issues of 75 per cent of wages and salary for the workers and had asked the unions to approach the Central Government Industrial Tribunal regarding lowering of salary allowances following the merger.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, Additional Solicitor General L Nageshwar Rao and advocate Lalit Bhasin appeared for Air India Management while senior advcoate Harish Salve represented the workers union.

Salve submitted that deduction of 25 per cent salary by Air India management be restored.

The High Court had on January 27 declined to stay the implementation of the Justice Dharmadhikari report on the merger of the erstwhile Indian Airlines and Air India.

Disposing of a bunch of petitions, the high court had asked the unions to approach the Central Government Industrial Tribunal regarding lowering of salary allowances following the merger.