Earlier, the union had moved the Bombay High Court to plead for a stay on the privatisation scheme, which the court struck down when the matter came up for hearing on Tuesday. Since the formalities for the process of privatisation had already been completed by the time the union pleaded for a stay, it was too late to put a halt to the scheme, observed the court. Since the 127 employees were being absorbed in other departments, there was no question of their services becoming obsolete, added thecourt. The scheme was formally handed over on the midnight of September 13 to Konark Infrastructure Private Limited.

As an alternative, the administration has offered to transfer the workers to other departments to posts on par with what they hold at present. However, the workers have said they want only a temporary transfer until the contract ends in March 31, 1999.

Shyam Gaikwad, Front chairperson, stated: ``It is unfortunate that the same senior civic officials who are hand in glove with the local mafia in octroi theft have blamed the workers fir doing their job.''

The UMC has proposed privatisation to blank out the rampant corruption that existed prior to privatisation. If the local mafia dons, corporators and civic officials stop meddling, the workers will be able to net more octroi than the private contractor is offering, he added.