The Mumbai high court on Friday allowed 24 suspended Air-India pilots to join duty and operate flights, but asked them to submit their replies to the chargesheet served on them by the management explaining the reasons for refusal to operate flights.

Justice M N Gokhale and Justice D G Deshpande hearing a petition filed by Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) and 24 suspended pilots said the court would decide on June 16 the issue whether their suspension was per se illegal.

However, the court said the departmental inquiry would go on.