MMRDA removes Mumbai Monorail HR Head without serving notice

Mumbai (Urban Transport News): Recently a case of termination of a Mumbai Monorail employee has come into picture when she filed a Writ Petition in Bombay High Court against the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). Hema Jumani, who served in Mumbai Monorail over six years and heading the HR department of the Authority, alleging that she was terminated from the job arbitrarily and vindictively without giving any reason or notice by the MMRDA.

She said that a ‘male employee’ having lesser experience has replaced her. Urban Transport News received an e-mail written by Ms. Jumani regarding her case of arbitrary termination by the MMRDA. She said that she was verbally terminated from the job on January 21. Starting January 23, she was not allowed to enter in Mumbai Monorail depot for work and was stopped by the security at the entrance gate. Further, Jumani alleged that she, being the only female head into Mumbai Monorail project, has been terminated wrongfully by the MMRDA.

She claims her removal was just verbal, arbitrary and vindictive. "I have filed a writ petition in Bombay High Court against the arbitrary action by the MMRDA, seeking reinstatement into service. The court has issued notices to the respective respondents. I am single only earning member of the family arbitrary terminated for unknown reasons. MMRDA officials think they are Govt body and can do anything as per their will and fancies. Unfortunately, MMRDA is not considering me as their employee. I was working under the Mumbai Monorail operator and has continuous in employment for more than six years", said Hema Jumani. "The project under I was working is overlooked by RA Rajeev, Metropolitan Commissioner of MMRDA.

I tried contacting him via phone, e-mail but no answer then I personally went to speak to him but he has not responded", she added. In December 2018, around 198 employees of Malaysian Scomi Engineering were assured of being absorbed by MMRDA after taking over Monorail operations. However, Hema Jumani working as head in the HR department was asked to not report to work in January 2019 without giving any reason for the same. In the other hand RA Rajeev, Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA said that Jumani was never an MMRDA employee.

No employee of Mumbai Monorail has been absorbed by MMRDA till today. Though they have been assured. Sources said that MMRDA is replacing the young Monorail employees with the retired and non-experienced persons with high pay scales who are living in their critical age at 65+. The Authority has also changed all existing venders with the new vendors as per their choice. In December 2018, the MMRDA terminated the contract of a consortium of Larsen & Toubro and Scomi Engineering (LTSE) who was operating Mumbai Monorail since 2014 citing non-performance.