HC restrains PGI workers’ union from going on strike

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has restrained the workers’ union at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI) here from holding any strike, abstentions or protests in the future, while warning that any breach of its order could lead to the union’s registration being cancelled.

Issuing a writ of prohibition, the Bench of by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry

directed: “Considering the importance of services rendered, this Court by way of a writ of prohibition, restrains (workers’) union from resorting to any strike, or abstentions, or protest in the future. Furthermore, the respondent-union is prohibited from using the premises of PGI, Chandigarh, for furthering the union activities except at the place earmarked as union office, if any. By no means, the union activities will obstruct or hinder the uninterrupted movement of patients, their family members, doctors, visitors, etc. within the PGI, Chandigarh.”

The Bench made it clear: “In case of breach of this order by the respondent-union, the ALC (Central), Chandigarh or any other competent authority shall proceed to initiate the process of cancellation of registration of respondent-union under the Trade Union Act or any other enactment.”

Before parting, the court observed the PGI was a premier institute of national importance catering to patients not only from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh but also Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.