Chandigarh, Oct 15 (PTI) The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday directed the Haryana government to ensure strict implementation of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) during a two-day strike called by the state's Roadways Employees Union.

Justice Rajan Gupta has passed these orders while disposing of a petition filed by some private transporters against the strike call given by the protesters.

The roadways union has announced a two-day strike in the state on October 16 and 17 to protest against the state government's decision to hire around 700 private buses.

The roadways union has been maintaining that the decision of hiring private buses is "unwarranted" and not in "public or employees interests".

The private bus operators, in their plea, had argued that the roadways union leaders are liable to be punished for contempt of court, as they have been going on strike time and again despite the undertaking given before the high court earlier that they would not go on strike.

During the hearing of the case, the counsel for Haryana government informed the high court that ESMA has already been promulgated in the state and appropriate action would be taken against those resorting to strike.

In August too, the employees had gone on a day-long strike to protest the state government's decision to introduce 700 private buses in the state.

The union leaders have said that the government should instead increase the number of buses under the roadways department rather than promoting private players.

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