The Industrial Court in Thane has granted interim protection to 267 sanitation and housekeeping workers employed at railway stations in Navi Mumbai and Panvel, following the planned transfer of stations from CIDCO to Central Railway.
In an order passed on September 21, court member Amruta A Patil directed CIDCO and 13 other respondents to maintain the existing status quo, continue regular wage payments and refrain from terminating workers without following due legal procedure.
The workers, many of whom have reportedly served at the same stations for nearly three decades, approached the court through the Azad Kamgar Sanghatana after an RTI response dated September 2 revealed details of the proposed transfer.
According to the union, minutes of a meeting indicated that all 17 CIDCO-developed Navi Mumbai railway stations were to be handed over to the Railways within six months. The union alleged that workers and contractors had subsequently faced the possibility of abrupt termination following the transfer.
Court Seeks Continuity Until Next Hearing
The court noted concerns that termination before the case is adjudicated could cause workers and their families “grave and irreparable prejudice” through the sudden loss of livelihood.
No formal replies have yet been filed by the respondents, and the order remains interim in nature.
CIDCO opposed the workers’ plea through advocate YM Pendse, arguing that the petition was not maintainable against the development authority because the workers were engaged through contractors. Counsel also requested time to submit a detailed response.
The other 13 respondents, including contractors, did not appear despite having received notices on September 15.
Union Welcomes Interim Relief
Mahadev Waghmare, president of Azad Kamgar Sanghatana, said the union had sought protection for workers whose employment could be affected merely by a change in management or contractor.
“The union had persistently pushed to ensure that a mere change in management or contractor should not cost these workers — some of whom have cleaned and maintained the same stations for close to 30 years — their jobs, wages, or continuity of service. The fight for the workers’ rights would continue.”
The case will be heard again, when the respondents are expected to submit their formal replies.
Source: Mid-day
