The court issued bailable warrants to the leaders

Taking serious note of the employees of the State Electricity Department going on strike despite earlier orders not to interrupt the power supply, the Allahabad High Court on Friday initiated contempt proceedings against the employees union leaders of the department.

The court issued bailable warrants to these leaders and asked them to appear before the court on 20 March 2023.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) has issued notices to a total of 18 office bearers of various organisations, including Shailendra Dubey, convenor of Vidyut Karmachari Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti, asking them to call off the strike immediately, citing the orders of the High Court.

Hearing a PIL, Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Vinod Diwakar directed that in view of the emergency situation in the matter, bailable warrants be issued by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Lucknow, to the office bearers of Vidyut Karmachari Sanyukta Sangharsh Samiti and they should be It is necessary to appear in the court on 20 March 2023 at 10 am.

The court also directed that the authorities concerned should ensure that appropriate action is taken against the delinquent officers or employees in accordance with law so as to ensure compliance of the orders passed by this court on December 6, 2022, which directed that the electricity in the state Supply will not be interrupted.

Fixing the next hearing of the matter on March 20, the court directed the state government to inform about the action taken in the matter till then.

The court said, "The Additional Chief Secretary of the concerned department will submit an affidavit till then."

Passing the said direction, the court said, “From what has been submitted before us, it appears that a serious situation has arisen which needs immediate attention.

Even if there is merit in the demand of these employees, even then the entire state cannot be put to a halt.”

The court said, “Such an act of the employees is in violation of the direction of this court not to interrupt the power supply.

National interest is compromised due to decrease in power generation in different power generation units of the state.

Therefore prima facie it is disobedience to the order of this court dated December 6, 2022.

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