A two-day strike by Air India employees in protest of a gag order preventing them from discussing the airline with the media has been halted by the Delhi High Court until July 13. 140 flights were disrupted by the strike, stranding thousands of passengers. The Delhi High Court also gave the government to discipline those employees who they deemed as not providing "essential public services". A government official said that the strike was illegal and that the union and government should be negotiating. He also added that the management had the government's support in taking whatever steps it needs to rectify the situation. The gag order and protest came after a plane crash that killed 158 people, drawing attention to the airline's safety standards. 18 employees have been reported as fired.
See "Air India employees union strike called off", Hindustan Times, May 25, 2010