'Must Go Through What It Feels To Not Get Salary': Bombay HC Stops Salary Of Zilla Parishad CEO Upon Failure To Pay Teachers

In a significant order, the Bombay High Court after noting that the payments of some teachers were not paid despite clear orders, directed the Maharashtra government to stop the salary of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Solapur Zilla Parishad, for a month.

A division bench of Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Ashwin Bhobe orally said the CEO too must go through what it feels like not getting the salary.

In their January 28 order, the judges noted that by an order passed on November 26, 2024, the CEO of the Solapur Zilla Parishad was ordered to pay the salaries of the petitioner teachers, who were not paid their salaries despite putting in work for more than eight months. The CEO was ordered to make the payments latest by January 14, when the matter was to be heard next. 

However, when the matter was taken up for hearing on January 28, it was told that still the salaries of the teachers have still not been paid.

Irked over this, the judges said, "We are directing the State Government to stop the salary of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Zilla Parishad, Solapur since our order has been disobeyed. The salary would be stopped until the salary of these Petitioners is paid."

The bench adjourned the hearing in the matter till March 5. 

The issue pertains to a petition filed by three teachers, all challenging the termination of their appointments. The petitioners allege that despite being eligible, they were initially obstructed from participating in the Teachers Aptitude and Intelligence Test (TAIT) meant for recruitment in schools. And then, after a relief granted back in 2023 from the HC, they cleared the tests and were appointed. However, later two FIRs were registered alleging fraud in the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) exams, which was conducted in December 2022 and results of the same were published in March 2023. 

The petitioners, were given 'character certificates' by the local police, as mandated by the local administration and they were appointed somewhere in May 2024 in the Solapur Zilla Parishad School. However, by October 2024, they were served with termination letters. 

When the petition was first taken up for hearing on November 26, 2024, the judges had then issued notice to the respondents and indicated that they may hear the petition finally at the admission stage itself. It had however, asked the CEO to clear the unpaid salaries to the petitioners, latest by January 14, 2025. Yet the payments were not made even till January 28, 2025.

Therefore, the bench, stopped the salary of the CEO himself for 'disobeying' the court's orders. 

Appearance:

Advocate Sumit Kate appeared for the Petitioners.

Assistant Government Pleader AC Bhadang represented the State. 

Advocate Rupesh Bobade represented the Zilla Parishad. 

Case Title: Manoj Mahale vs State of Maharashtra (Writ Petition 568 of 2025)

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