The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Maharashtra expresses shock and dismay at the reports that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) administrations have chosen to invoke draconian provisions of the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) against striking BEST employees, instead of taking steps to respond to their demands and alleviate their grievances at the earliest.

The BEST administration has issued eviction notices to striking BEST employees and is already trying to remove them and their families from their homes, on the second day of the indefinite strike called by BEST workers’ unions to press for their demands.