Maharashtra ST buses back on roads after high court rap

Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service
Mumbai, October 21

Striking employees of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) on Saturday called off their five-day strike after the Bombay High Court ruled it illegal.

Protesting employees — mainly bus drivers and conductors — called off the strike after a meeting of the strike committee in the wee hours of Wednesday. Officials of the MSTRC said most of the buses were back on the roads and services will soon be back to normal.

The employees had gone on an indefinite strike on October 17 to force the government to implement the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission.

The high court had also hit out at the government for not being serious about ending the strike. Following the observations of the court, the Maharashtra Government said that it would set up a high-powered committee whose report would be submitted in three weeks'
time.

The strike during the Diwali festival resulted in protests in different parts of Maharashtra as people who could not travel to their hometowns.