Synopsis

Over 86 writ petitions were filed by primary school teachers, assistant teachers, junior clerks and peons whose services had been approved by the education officer and who had been issued shalarth ids (unique employee identifiers). after serving for 10‑15 years without any complaint, the education department initiated a mass inquiry based on vague show‑cause notices. without granting proper personal hearings, the authorities cancelled the approvals and stopped salaries from march 2025. the bombay high court quashed the entire exercise, holding that (i) the show‑cause notices were vague and did not disclose specific charges; (ii) the inquiry was conducted with undue haste without following the procedure prescribed in gr dated 10.06.2022; (iii) no opportunity of personal hearing was given; (iv) the teachers could not be penalised for flaws in the department’s own systems (pavitra portal, udise+). the court restored approvals and directed release of salary.

Court: High Court of Judicature at Bombay, Nagpur Bench

Coram: Hon’ble Smt. Justice M. S. Jawalkar and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Nandesh S. Deshpande (Division Bench)

Date of Judgment: 27th April 2026

Citation: 2026:BHC-NAG:6455 (Writ Petition Nos. 6163/2025 & batch)

Core Law: Service Law / Constitutional Law – Articles 14, 16, 21, 300‑A; Principles of Natural Justice; Maharashtra Employees of Private Schools (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1977 (MEPS Act); Government Resolution dated 10.06.2022.

1. Heading of the judgment

High court of judicature at bombay nagpur bench

Writ petition nos. 6163, 6148, 6370, 6365, 6166, 6159, 6165, 6363, 6169, 6364, 6386, 6172, 6359, 6161, 6387, 6158, 6164, 6157, 6162, 6168, 6388, 4963, 6789, 6019, 6018, 6022, 6021, 6937, 8085, 6023, 6020, 6017, 6016, 8110, 8113, 6814, 7064, 7336, 4605, 8130, 6438, 8095, 6060, 6434, 5680, 6430, 6433, 6436, 5531, 6106 & 5647 of 2025

Sachin s/o gyanchand kanojiya and ors. (petitioners) vs. The state of maharashtra & ors. (respondents)

Coram: hon’ble smt. justice m. s. jawalkar and hon’ble mr. justice nandesh s. deshpande

Closed on: 6th & 9th april, 2026; pronounced on: 27th april, 2026

2. Legal framework

Major laws and provisions involved:

• Constitution of india, 1950 – article 14 (equality, non‑arbitrariness), article 16 (equality in public employment), article 21 (right to livelihood), article 300‑a (right to property – salary)

• Maharashtra employees of private schools (regulation of employment and conditions of service) act, 1977 (meps act) – provisions relating to approval of appointments

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