The Bombay high court on Tuesday directed the BEST staff, including drivers and conductors, to call off their strike and report to work immediately. The staff had gone on an unannounced strike in the morning to protest against the new computerised scheduling system.

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Justice NM Jamdar gave the direction to withdraw the strike while hearing a petition filed by BEST, seeking direction to the employees' union to withdraw its call for strike and to report to work immediately.

BEST had approached the high court stating that despite an order from the industrial court, directing implementation of the new computerised scheduling system, the employees went on a flash strike, bringing the city to a halt and affecting several commuters and students.

The industrial court had earlier stayed the new duty schedule for the conductors, following which BEST appealed to the high court. On March 28, the high court cancelled the stay order and directed the industrial court to hear the matter expeditiously. On March 29, the industrial court approved the proposed duty schedule and directed that it be implemented from April 1.