The Supreme Court issued notices to Indian Airlines (now merged with Air India) on the issue of overweight air hostesses who were put on ground duty.

A bench comprising Justices Tarun Chatterjee and Aftab Alam directed the airlines to respond within four weeks to the petitions of Sheela Joshi and four other air hostesses who were put on ground duty because they were found to be overweight.

Earlier, counsel for the petitioners submitted before the court that they could not be removed from the job of air hostess without seeking an explanation from them.

He also contended that the principle of no work, no pay, could not be made applicable to regular employees, unless and until they were refusing to perform their duties.

In all, 11 air hostesses were taken back on the on-flight job, after they reduced their weight.

The Delhi High Court had upheld the decision of the Management, while dismissing the petitions of the air hostesses on June 4.

This decision has now been challenged in the apex court by the five air hostesses.

UNI