The Bombay High Court today said it would pass appropriate orders on Tuesday if the striking BEST union and the state authorities failed to reach an agreement. As the strike by over 33,000 employees of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking entered its seventh day, the bench of Chief Justice Naresh Patil and Justice NM Jamdar said things cannot continue as they are.
The state government and the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai told the court today that the BEST union had rejected all their proposed solutions and was adamant on not withdrawing the strike. Appearing for the state, Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni reiterated that the strike was “illegal” in view of the state’s laws on essential services.
BEST union’s counsel Neeta Karnik, however, told the bench that the workers were concerned about the pay grade of around 15,000 junior-level employees who earn less than 15,000 rupees per month and the authorities have failed to assure them that the demand would be addressed on a priority basis.
Adjourning the matter till tomorrow, the court has directed the high power committee, constituted by the Maharashtra government to negotiate with the striking union and submit a report in a sealed cover clarifying its views on some of the urgent demands of the union.
