Title - Western Railway motormen yet to get show-cause notices

MUMBAI: The Western Railway (WR) administration has not yet summed up the courage to issue show-cause notices to motormen whose stir brought services to a halt for more than four hours on July 20. It was the second such disruption since November 2011.

Around 450 motormen had taken mass sick leave to demand improvement in working conditions on July 20. But their main grouse was the proposed appointment of two 'rebel' motormen, who had not supported their earlier agitation, as instructors at the Mahalaxmi training school.

Senior WR officials are feeling powerless to handle the indiscipline as they do not have the higher authorities' backing. A senior official said, "We were on the verge of taking action on July 20. It could have worsened the situation in the short-term but been a boon in the long-term." As the stir prolonged, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan summoned general manager Mahesh Kumar to ensure an early resolution. "It brought tremendous pressure on the administrators."

Shailesh Goyal, member, Zonal User's Consultative Committee, said, "It is setting a bad precedent." Bhavesh Patel, an activist, said NGOs may file a PIL.