Bombay high court sets aside BEST order and directs compassionate employment for covid victim conductor's son

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Wednesday set aside a Nov 2021 order of BEST and directed it to employ on compassionate grounds within 60 days the son of a bus conductor who served for 27 years till Covid claimed his life in 2020.

The BrihanMumbai Electricity Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) must also release Rs 50 lakh as ex gratia compensation to the heirs of the conductor, directed Justices Riyaz Chagla and Advait Sethna, allowing a petition filed by Subodh Lakeshri, the son.

Lakeshri, through his counsel Madhavi Tavanandi, contended that BEST wrongly denied his request for a job on compassionate grounds after his father, who regularly worked during the Covid-19 lockdown, contracted the disease in June 2020.

"It would indeed be inhuman on the part of the Court to refrain from interfering in this case and fold its hands to decline relief to the heirs of the petitioner's father, who died while answering the call of duty," the HC said.

BEST counsel Vishal Talsania argued that the death was not due to Covid but to a heart attack and hence he cannot claim employment under its welfare policy. The HC, after hearing both sides, however, said the death certificate clearly says Covid as well as heart attack. The conductor was the sole earning member.