After accepting the recommendations from the committee constituted to look into the grievances of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) workers, the Bombay High Court on January 15 directed the BEST Workers Union to decide on their strike and inform the court on January 16.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Naresh Patil and Justice N.M. Jamdar was hearing a public interest litigation filed by advocate Datta Mane questioning the inconvenience caused to around 50 lakh commuters as 3,700 BEST buses have stopped plying.
The PIL said around 32,000 BEST employees have been on an indefinite strike since January 8, demanding higher salaries, a revision in pay scale for junior employees, and merger of the BEST budget with that of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
Advocate Neeta Karnik representing the Union told the court that the workers were paid ₹7,930 as basic salary from 2007 which was slashed to ₹5430 and said it needs to be restored to the previous level.
She once again reiterated that the disparity in the pay scale of BEST employee and a BMC employee is glaring and said there was a resolution to merge the budgets of BMC and the BEST, but it has not been looked into since one-and-a-half years.
The court asked why it has not been followed since so long and asked the Advocate-General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni to take a look.
The AG then submitted the report by the committee, which is constituted by secretaries of the urban development and transport department and headed by the Chief Secretary in a sealed envelope.
The court asked the BEST’s counsel M.P. Rao: “As an employer whatever they (workers) are demanding are you convinced on any one demand?”
Mr. Rao went on to explain about how BEST is making an annual loss of ₹1,000 crore and ₹200 crore has been borrowed. He also said that the workers have a political agenda as its an election year.
The court also said, “You have to run the service in the larger public interest and loss is not a criteria to run a public sector.”
Mr. Rao said once they withdraw the strike, no coercive steps will be taken against them and they will also be paid their salaries.
The court told Mr. Rao to go through the recommendations and suggest the ones he deems fit to the workers.
The senior counsel said once they withdraw the strike, there will be a 10 step increment in their salaries from February without arrears.
The court then directed Ms. Karnik to consult the union, decide on the strike and inform the court on January 16.
