The Supreme Court today refused to intervene in the stir by a section of Air India pilots even as Government offered to hold talks with them if they returned to work after their standoff entered the fourth day. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was also briefed about the fresh crisis in the cash-strapped state-owned carrier by Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh, as the stir led to cancellation of 12 international flights today.

This put hundreds of passengers to hardship in the holiday season. Mr. Ajit Singh while appealing to the striking pilots to end their stir and seeking their cooperation, ruled out imposing provisions of Essential Services Maintenance Act(ESMA) on them.

Asking the Air India management to “sort out” the problems with the striking pilots, the apex court refused to entertain its plea for initiating contempt proceedings against Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) for allegedly obstructing implementation of its order on training of pilots for Dreamliner aircraft.

A bench headed by Justice T S Thakur said the pilots have done nothing which amounts to contempt of court and suggested the airlines to speak with them to sort out the differences. It further said that if the strike is illegal, then the airlines can take action against them.