HC refrains striking SBI employees 500 mtr radius from branch

New Delhi, June 16 (UNI) Delhi High court today directed the employees of the State Bank of India (SBI), who intend to hold a one-day token strike on Monday, June 18, not to hold any demonstration within a vicinity of 500 metres radius around all the branches of the Delhi circle.

The court, however, did not refrain the emloyees from holding the strike but issued directions to hold peaceful demonstration beyond 500 metres radius of the bank.

Acting on the petition of the SBI, seeking injunction orders (stay) for the one-day token strike by the SBOA, Justice J P Singh, of the vacation bench, issued summons to the State Bank Officers' Association (SBOA) to appear on July 3, 2007.

Justice Singh, refrained the defendants, their agents, associates, members and sympathisers from holding and staging any demonstration, dharna, picketing, bringing morchas and shouting slogans.

Injunction was also put on committing voilant acts, giving threats or using force to drive out officers/employees who have reported for duty or resorting from any form of direct action, in any manner whatsoever, in, around and within a radius of 500 metres of all the office premises/branches of the bank within Delhi circle.

The court ruled that the bank can approach the Commisssioner of Police as well as local SHOs for maintaining necessary law and order.

SBI had approached the Delhi High court to refrain the employees from holding the strike as it will amount to chaos, violence and disruption of work.

The bank apprehended that the strike may prolong creating violence and disruption of work. It also sought damages from the agitating members as it will cause lot of loss to the public as well as the bank.

The court did not grant injunction to the bank but strictly refrained the striking persons to maintain law and order by not using force to refrain the willing emloyees to join their duty.

UNI