Chennai: The Madras high court on Thursday directed authorities not to interfere with the peaceful strike being observed by the United Labour Federation (ULF) attached to the NVH India Auto Parts Private Limited, a South Korean multinational, manufacturing parts for the Hyundai Motor Company. Justice M. Duraiswamy said that if it turned violent or became a threat to law and order, then it was for the police to restore peace.
According to the petitioner, the ULF had been observing a peaceful strike since January 2 as they had been denied basic amenities. But some of them were arrested and the management was attempting to break the strike. Hence, the ULF filed the present petition to direct aUTHORITIES not to aid the management in any manner. Senior counsel V Prakash, appearing for the ULF, submitted that the management was taking the assistance of the authorities for breaking the strike and the authorities were taking coercive steps to do so at the instigation of the management.
If the management succeeded, the Union would be put to irreparable loss and hardship, he added, giving an undertaking that the ULF would not indulge in any unlawful activity. Senior Counsel Yashod Vardhan, appearing for the management, submitted that the strike called by the union was itself illegal. He sought time to file a counter. “This issue can be decided only in the writ petition after filing of counters by the respective parties,” the judge said, posted to January 27 further hearing of the case.
