Pune: MSEDCL Moves Industrial Court Against Illegal Strike; Joint Action Committee of Seven Unions Calls Off Protest Within 24 Hours
Pune: MSEDCL Moves Industrial Court Against Illegal Strike; Joint Action Committee of Seven Unions Calls Off Protest Within 24 Hours
Mumbai, October 11, 2025:
The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has filed a petition in the Mumbai Industrial Court against the Joint Action Committee of seven electricity employee unions that initiated a 72-hour illegal strike while conciliation proceedings were still underway at the Labour Commissioner’s office. During the court hearing on Friday (October 10), the Joint Action Committee announced that it was withdrawing the strike after 24 hours.
During the one-and-a-half days of the strike, 62.56% of engineers, officers, and staff of MSEDCL, Mahatransco, and Mahagenco reported to work, while 37.44% participated in the strike.
The 72-hour strike notice was issued by seven of MSEDCL’s 29 unions, primarily over restructuring and other demands. To avert the strike, Additional Chief Secretary (Energy) Abha Shukla, MSEDCL Chairman and Managing Director Lokesh Chandra, and Directors Sachin Talewar (Operations/Projects) and Rajendra Pawar (Human Resources) held separate meetings with the unions, taking a positive stance toward their demands. Written minutes of these meetings and official letters appealing to the unions not to proceed with the strike were also issued.
In line with the employees’ demands and to improve customer service, the restructuring work of sub-divisions had begun on a pilot basis. It was clarified that necessary modifications would be made during the trial phase, and final orders on restructuring would be issued only after mutual consent between management and the unions. However, the Joint Action Committee did not respond positively.
Currently, Maharashtra is recovering from heavy rains and floods, with all government agencies working at full capacity. With the Diwali festival approaching, MSEDCL had appealed to the unions to avoid striking during this critical and festive period to ensure uninterrupted electricity services to citizens. The Joint Action Committee, however, did not comply.
Upon receiving the strike notice, MSEDCL had filed the matter with the Labour Commissioner’s office in Mumbai under the Industrial Disputes Act for conciliation. As per the law, a strike cannot be initiated while conciliation proceedings are pending. Moreover, electricity is an essential service under the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA), and MSEDCL management had appealed to the unions not to proceed with the strike.
Despite this, the Joint Action Committee commenced the strike on Thursday (October 9). Consequently, MSEDCL filed a petition against the illegal strike in the Industrial Court, which promptly issued a notice to the committee. Following the hearing on Friday morning (October 10), the Joint Action Committee announced the withdrawal of the strike within 24 hours.
