The Supreme Court on Monday declared the strike by Tamil Nadu government employees as illegal, but suggested that the state government take back all dismissed staff, provided they furnish an unconditional apology and an undertaking not to go on strike again.
 
A bench comprising Justice M B Shah and Justice A R Lakshmanan took a compassionate view and asked the state government to respond to its suggestion in three days.

The next hearing of the case will be on Thursday.