CHENNAI: Paving the way for ending the indefinite strike of bulk LPG tanker operators, the major oil marketing companies on Tuesday informed the Madras High Court that the existing contracts for the bulk LPG tanker operators will be extended up to March 31, 2026.
Agreeing with the offer, the tanker operators promised the court that they would not resort to further strikes in the future.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) A R L Sundaresan made the submission on behalf of the oil companies on the extension of the tender before Justice M Dhandapani when the petitions filed by the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and other companies seeking to bar the operators from going ahead with the indefinite strike came up for hearing.
The IOCL has completed the tender process and will issue work orders from November 1. The BPCL has extended the existing contracts until the tender is finalised. All existing contacts will be extended till March 31, 2026, the ASG told the court.
Recording the submission, the judge disposed of the petitions. He also recorded that the operators — the Southern Region Bulk LPG Transport Owners Association (SRBLPGTOA) — will not resort to further strikes in the future.
During the hearing, the counsel appearing for the tanker operators submitted that if the contracts are not extended to the operators, it will affect the operators since the bulk LPG tankers cannot be used for some other cargo transportation purposes.
He also noted that if the tankers are grounded, it will incur heavy loss to the tanker owners who will find it difficult to shoulder the burden since a huge amount of money is invested in the vehicles. The counsel sought extension of the contracts by a year.
