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Don't force new duty schedule on other depots than Malad: Bombay high court tells BEST

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The Bombay high court on Thursday asked the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) management not to implement the new computerised duty schedule of bus drivers and conductors in depots other than the Malad depot. The schedule is being implemented on an experimental basis at Malad depot.

The BEST management and its employees have been embroiled in a dispute over implementation of the new system of schedule. The drivers and conductors claim that under the new schedule they have to work for more than 12 hours, whereas the BEST management said it will optimise use of the workforce, ensure better frequency of buses and save Rs32 crore for the undertaking annually.

They had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) whereby it was agreed to implement the new duty schedule at Malad depot on an experimental basis from April 12. After working out the pros and cons, it would be implemented at other depots from June 1.

On April 11, the BEST Workers' Union had approached the high court alleging that under the garb of implementing the new duty schedule at Malad depot, the BEST was implementing it at Goregaon and Malwani depots as well.

The undertaking said that some impact of the new system would fall on the surrounding depots and the same was agreed upon in the MoU.

Justice Nitin Jamdar questioned to what extent would the impact be on other depots. "What is the extent of impact on other depots because of this experiment? Experiment by all means but don't change the schedule of staff of other depots. If you (BEST management) are doing that then it means that you are starting the new schedule in other depots too," said Justice Jamdar.

Pointing out that it would be a violation of MoU to touch schedules of staff other than those transferred at Malad, Justice Jamdar asked: "Is it necessary to touch the schedule of staff from other depots too?"
The court added that the BEST should conduct its experiment with minimum impact on other depots.

The court even chided the workers' union for its conduct for resorting to strikes. "Now that you have approached the court, have some faith in it. Or else, I will not entertain this petition," said Justice Jamdar.

The HC has kept the petition for hearing on April 23.

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