INDIAN BILL ON STRIKES

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28347, 5 August 1957, Page 11

INDIAN BILL ON STRIKES

Walk-Out By Opposition (N.Z Press Association—Qomnant » NEW DELHI, August 3. All opposition members in the Indian Lower House walked out of Parliament today in protest against the Government’s insistence on rushing through a special bill to protect essential services from nation-wide strikes. The Opposition, consisting of some 50 Communists, Socialists and Independents, declare that the one-day debate next Monday set for discussion was not enough. The Prime Minister (Mr Nehru) met a storm of protest when he said the Government was determined to see the bill through Parliament next Monday.

Amid general uproar, the Oppositiqn maintained that the bill was a direct contravention of fundamental rights guaranteed » under the Indian Constitution. When the speaker ruled out Opposition objections, the entire Opposition section .walked out.

The row started when the Home Minister (Mr Govind Pant) asked leave to _ introduce Essential Services Maintenance Bill, 1957, which would bring in special measures to protect services threatened by a nation-wide strike of about 500.000 civil employees, to start at midnight on Thursday These services include posts, telegraphs, civil aviation, customs, excise and other Government departments. The bill would seek to empower the Governmept to prohibit strikes in such essential services and declare them illegal. It is an emergency measure and would remain in force only for a limited period. The Government today announced the appointment of a commission to examine and recommend possible changes in the present wage structure and service conditions of Government eihployees. The civil servants who threaten strike action demand an immediate grant of interim relief and the appointment of a new pay commission to reconsider their wage structure. -