Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday stayed the state government’s order, sanctioning eligible leave with salary for its employees and teachers who had not reported to duty during the nationwide general strike on January 8 and 9.
The court observed the strike, called by the joint trade union against the Central Government’s policies, was not a legally permissible one.
As well as seeking a response from the government, the court said that even if the strike was legal and justified, there cannot be a blanket order by the government.
The government order sanctioning pay would send a wrong message to the society, the court observed.
P Narayanan, Senior Government Pleader, submitted that permission to grant eligible leave cannot be perceived as a government act encouraging participation in the strike.
The order allocating the pay to striking employees by Principal Secretary General Administration was released on January 13.
The High Court order came in response to a petition by Alapuzha’s Kalarkod native Balagopalan.