Kochi: The Kerala High Court Tuesday directed government to inform it within two weeks whether transportation of LPG and Petroleum products can be brought under Essential Services Maintenance Act.
The direction was issued by a division bench comprising justice Thothathil B Radhakrishnan and justice K Harilal while considering a petition by All India LPG distributors Federation of Kerala complaining that frequent strikes by headload workers union was causing obstructions to the transportation of petroleum products, bringing it to a standstill.
The bench granted two weeks time to the government to convey its views.
The direction was issued by the court on finding that there is concentration of bargaining powers in the hands of a few engaged in loading and unloading works.
The petitioner had also sought police protection from illegal demands of unions engaged in loading and unloading operations.