Streamlining Educational Disputes: Bombay High Court Upholds Grievance Redressal Mechanism, Directs Exhaustion of Alternative Remedy Before Writ Jurisdiction

1. Case Snapshot

Case Name: Madhao Bahuuddeshiya Shikshan Sanstha, Dawaniwada & Ors. vs State Of Maharashtra & Another

Citation: Writ Petition No. 1775/2026 and connected matters

High Court: High Court of Bombay, Nagpur Bench

Bench: Hon'ble Mr. Justice Anil L. Pansare and Hon'ble Mr. Justice Rajnish R. Vyas

Date of Judgment: 16th June, 2026

Area of Law: Service Law, Education Law, Administrative Law, Constitutional Law, Writ Jurisdiction, Grievance Redressal Mechanism

2. Judgment in Brief

The Bombay High Court disposed of a batch of writ petitions challenging orders passed by educational authorities, directing the petitioners to first approach the Grievance Redressal Committee/Appellate Authority constituted under Government Resolution dated 27th March 2024. The Court held that despite a reference pending before a Larger Bench on the validity of the Government Resolution, the law as laid down by the Division Bench in Nitin Tadge and Komal's cases must be followed. The Court upheld the validity of the Grievance Redressal mechanism as an administrative forum to streamline disputes arising from the inaction or arbitrary actions of educational authorities. The Court deprecated the conduct of an advocate who participated in the formulation of the Government Resolution but later challenged its validity. The Court directed the State Government to constitute an additional Grievance Redressal Committee at the State level and requested the State to accord statutory backing to the mechanism under the M.E.P.S. Act.

3. Relevant Facts

Background of the Disputes

• The petitions involved multiple educational institutions, teachers, and non-teaching staff from various districts in Maharashtra, including Gondia, Chandrapur, Wardha, Nagpur, Yavatmal, Ramtek, Amravati, and Washim.

• The petitioners challenged orders passed by education authorities regarding denial of personal recognition, rejection of transfers, denial of appointments, refusal of pay revisions, pension disputes, workload disputes, and other service-related matters.

• These matters fell within the categories for which the State Government had constituted a Grievance Redressal Committee under Government Resolution dated 27th March 2024.

The Government Resolution

• The Government Resolution was issued pursuant to the directions of the Division Bench in Nitin Tadge v. State of Maharashtra (Writ Petition No.204/2019) to address recurring complaints arising from the failure of Education Department officials to discharge their duties.

• The mechanism provided for filing complaints/appeals against orders passed by Zonal Officers on applications of private aided/unaided/partially aided teaching and non-teaching staff and educational institutions.

• The subjects covered included denial of personal recognition, rejected transfers, denial of compassionate appointments, appointment disputes, rejection of SHALARTH ID, refusal of upgradation, pay revision disputes, pension disputes, and 15 other categories.

Earlier Litigation

• The validity of the Government Resolution was challenged and upheld by the Division Bench at Aurangabad in Komal d/o Balaji Awatirak v. State of Maharashtra (Writ Petition No.7355/2024) on 25th October 2024.

• On 19th December 2024, in Shri Agrasen Shikshan Sanstha, Gondia v. State of Ma

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