New Delhi :  National carrier Air India Wednesday moved a contempt petition in the Delhi High Court against the striking pilots for not complying with its order that restrained them from continuing the "illegal strike".

The matter will come up at 2.30 p.m. Wednesday before Justice Reva Khetrapal. A single judge of the Delhi High court May 9 restrained over 100 pilots, owing allegiance to the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG), an association of Air India pilots, from continuing the strike over the rescheduling of Boeing 787 Dreamliner training and matters relating to their career progression.

The Air India move came after a division bench of the Delhi High Court May 17 dismissed the IPG plea that challenged the court s earlier order restraining the pilots from going on an "illegal strike".

Coming down heavily on the striking pilots, the division bench had said they could not "wilfully and flagrantly" disobey its orders to end their "illegal" strike and may face action for contempt of court.

The judges had said that if IPG members failed to comply with the court order or continued with their strike, the single judge could initiate contempt of court proceedings against them.