20 March, 2015In the recent development of Maruti Suzuki Manesar case, 81 workers were granted bail by a local court in Haryana. The workers had been in jail since July 2012 on charges of violence and murder of a company manager.
It was after the violent incident at a Maruti Suzuki plant in India in 2012, resulting in the death of a manager, that around 2,800 workers were fired and 147 were imprisoned. The workers were charged with murder, attempt to murder and criminal conspiracy.
Two workers received bail in February this year, and 79 more followed on 17 March. 64 workers are still waiting for their bail.
The process of getting bail has been long, with management failing to produce substantial evidence against the workers.
Senior Supreme Court lawyer Vrinda Grover commented on the delay of the bail procedure:
“Criminal investigation, prosecution and incarceration are being used by the State to please private corporations, crush trade unions and repress workers.”
Sudhershan Rao, IndustriALL Regional Secretary, welcomed the decision of the court to protect the fundamental rights of the workers and expressed solidarity:
"The workers’ ordeal could have been cut short if the government had followed the spirit of tripartism. Now we hope that the remaining incarcerated workers get bail very soon.”