TANMAY SURESH KARAD v. THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THROUGH ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY AND OTHERS
Case Details
1 wp 8624.2022 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY BENCH AT AURANGABAD 963 WRIT PETITION NO.8624 OF 2022 TANMAY SURESH KARAD VERSUS THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THROUGH ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY AND OTHERS ... Advocate for Petitioner: Mr. S. S. Thombre a/w. Mr. M. S. Karad h/f. Mr. Abhijeet V. Thombre AGP for Respondent/State: Mr. S. G. Sangle ... CORAM: RAVINDRA V. GHUGE AND ARUN R. PEDNEKER, JJ. DATE: 25th AUGUST, 2022 PER COURT: 1. The Petitioner has put-forth prayer clause ‘B’, as under:- “B. By issuing writ of Mandamus or any other writ or order or directions in the like nature, the impugned order dated 12.05.2022 issued by the respondent no.2 may kindly be quashed and set aside with further direction to the respondent no.2 to grant approval to he services of the petitioner on the post of Junior Clerk 2 wp 8624.2022 and for that purpose issue necessary orders;” 2. Heard the learned Counsel and the AGP. Perused the grounds. 3. The Education Officer has passed the impugned order dated 12.05.2022, concluding that the appointment of the Petitioner as a Junior Clerk violates the Government Resolutions mentioned at reference Nos.1 to 4 and the guidelines at Sr. No. 5, in the impugned order. The Government Resolution dated 28.01.2019, settles the staffing pattern of the non-teaching category. 4. By communication dated 04.04.2019, the Management informed the Education Officer that a post has fallen vacant on 30.11.2016. This information is supplied after more than 3½ years. Thereafter, the Management wrote a letter dated 30.12.2020 to the Education Officer stating therein that the Petitioner has been appointed on 3 wp 8624.2022 17.06.2019, as a Junior Clerk. The Director Education (Secondary and Higher Secondary), State of Maharashtra, Pune informed the Education Officer on 01.03.2021 as under- “ lanHkkZf/ku ‘kklu fu.kZ; o lap ekU;rkaps voyksdu djkos- lanHkkZf/ku ‘kklu fu.kZ; fnukad 28-01-2019 vUo;s jkT;krhy ekU;rkizkIr [kktxh va’kr% @iw.kZr% vuqnkfur ek/;fed] mPp ek/;fed ‘kkGkaarhy o dfu”B egkfo|ky;krhy f’k{kdsrj deZpk&;kalkBh lq/kkfjr vkd`frca/k ykxw dj.;kr vkyk vkgs- lnj vkd`rhca/kkr loZ f’k{kdsrj inkaP;k eatqjhlkBhps fud”k fuf’pr dj.;kr vkys vkgsr- ‘kklu fu.kZ; fnukad 28-01-2019 P;k fu”d”kkZuqlkj lu 2018&2019 P;k fud”kkauqlkj lu 2018&2019 P;k vkWuykbZu lapekU;rk dj.;kr vkysY;k vkgsr- ‘kklu fu.kZ; fnukad 07-03-2019 vUo;s vuqKs; f’k{kdsrj inkaps okVi f’k{k.k lapkyd ¼ ek/;fed o mPp ek/;fed ½ egkjk”Vª jkT;] ;kauh djkos v’kk izdkjs in eatwj dsY;kf’kok; lnjhy in vuqKs; vkgs vls ekuys tk.kkj ukgh v’kh rjrwn vkgs- R;kuqlkj ‘kklu fu.kZ; fnukad 28-01-2019 P;k fud”kkauqlkj ‘kklu fu.kZ; fnukad 07-03-2019 e/khy eqnnk dzekad 1 e/;s uewn dsY;kizek.ks iw.kZr% vuqnkfur @va’kr% vuqnkfur ek/;fed] mPp ek/;fed ‘kkGkarhy o dfu”B egkfo|ky;krhy f’k{kdsrj deZpkjh ;kaph infugk; vuqKs; inkaps okVi lkscrP;k izi=kuqlkj dj.;kr ;sr vkgs- rFkkfi] ‘kkGsdMwu pqdhph fo|kFkhZ la[;k bR;knh uewn d:u in eatwj >kys vlY;kps fun’kZukl vkY;kl lnj in deh d:u rls ;k lapkyuky;kl rkrMhus dGfo.;kr ;kos- rlsp ‘kkGspk vuqnku izdkj pqdhpk uewn >kY;kps fun’kZukl vkY;kl R;kuqlkj vko’;d nq:Lrhpk ,df=r izLrko rkrMhus laiw.kZ rif’kyklg lknj djkok- lnj i=kUo;s iw.kZr% vuqnkfur @va’kr% vuqnkfur ek/;fed] mPp ek/;fed ‘kkGkarhy o dfu”B egkfo|ky;krhy f’k{kdsrj deZpkjh ;kaps infugk; vuqKs; inkaps okVi dj.;kr vkys vlys rjh] foRr foHkkxkpk lanHkZ dzekad 3 fnukad 04-05-2020 ps ‘kklu fu.kZ;ke/khy eqnnk dzekad 14 e/;s uewn dj.;kr vkY;kuqlkj iq.kZr% vuqnkfur @va’kr% vuqnkfur ek/;fed] mPp ek/;fed ‘kkGkarhy o dfu”B egkfo| ky;krhy f’k{kdsrj deZpkjh ;kaph uohu inHkjrh dj.;kr ;sow u;s v’kk lwpuk lacaf/kr laLFkkauk vkiys Lrjko:u ns.;kr ;kO;kr- laLFkkauh inHkjrh dsY;kl v’kk inkauk ekU;rsckcr fu.kZ; ?ksrk ;s.kkj ukgh ;kph uksan ?;koh- 4 wp 8624.2022 ‘kklu fu.kZ; fnukad 07-03-2019 vUo;s vfrfjDr Bj.kk&;k deZpk&;kaP;k lek;kstukckcrP;k lwpuk Lora=i.ks fuxZfer dj.;kr ;sr vkgsr- lkscr %& f’k{kdsrj vuqKs; inkaps izi= ” 5. The Government Resolution dated 07.03.2019 is with regard to the revised staffing pattern applicable to the non-teaching category posts in the Secondary and Higher Secondary Schools, inclusive of the private partly grant-in- aid / fully grant-in-aid secondary and higher secondary schools. It indicates the conditions which are made applicable and the process to be followed for filling in the said post. It is categorically prescribed that unless the prior permission of the competent authority is obtained, such posts shall not be filled in. It would be apposite to reproduce Paragraph Nos.1 to 5, as under- “¼1½ lanHkkZ/khu dz-7 ;sFkhy fn-28 tkusokjh] 2019 P;k ‘kklu fu.kZ;krhy fud”kkauqlkj o izLrqr ‘kklu fu.kZ;kuqlkj vuqKs; Bj.kk&;k ;k inkaps okVi f’k{k.k lapkyd ¼ ek/;fed o mPp ek/;fed½] egkjk”Vª jkT;] iq.ks ;kauh djkos] v’kk izdkjs in eatwj dsY;kf’kok;] lnjhy in “vuqKs;” vkgs vls ekuys tk.kkj ukgh- ‘kklu vkns’kkuqlkj vFkZladfYir o eatwj inkaps ‘kkGkfugk; okVi djrkuk] v’kh ins izR; {kkr ,dk o”kkZrhy nksuosGk iViMrkG.kh dsY;kuqlkj ‘kkGsP;k ekU; rqdM;kae/khy th fo+|kFkhZ la[;k o ekU; vuqnkfur rqdM;kaph la[;k miyC/k gksbZy] R;kuqlkjp vls okVi djkos- 5 wp 8624.2022 ¼2½ lanHkkZ/khu dz-7 ;sFkhy fn-28 tkusokjh] 2019 P;k ‘kklu vkns’kkiwohZ f’k{kdsrj deZpk&;kaph th ins ‘kklukP;k R;k&R;k osGh vfLRkRokr vlysY;k vkd`rhca/kkuqlkj o izpfyr fu;ekuqlkj] vkj{k.k /kksj.kkizek.ks o ‘kklukP;k vkns’kkuqlkj Hkj.;kr vkyh vlrhy vkf.k ‘kklukP;k izpfyr fu;ekuqlkj T;k inkauk l{ke izkf/kdk&;kph ekU;rk vkgs] v’kh insp ‘kkluekU; let.;kr ;srhy- rlsp ‘kklukP;k osGksosGhP;k fucZa/kkP;k dkyko/khr f’k{kdsrj deZpk&;kaph ins Hkj.;kr vkyh vlrhy o v’kk inkauk T;k lacaf/kr izkf/kdk&;kus ‘kklukP;k iwoZijokuxh @eatqjhf’kok; ekU;rk fnyh vlsy vls lacaf/kr vf/kdkjh @izkf/kdkjh f’kLrHkaxkP;k dkjokbZl ik= Bjrhy- ¼3½ lq/kkfjr vkd`frca/k ykxw dsY;keqGs O;ixr gks.kkjh ins] vfrfjDr gks.kkjh ins] R;k inkaojhy dk;Zjr deZpkjh] bR;knhlanHkkZr lkscrP;k lgi=krhy izi= “v” e/;s n’kZfoY;kizek.ks dk;Zokgh dj.;kr ;koh- ¼4½ ‘kklu fu.kZ; fn-28 tkusokjh] 2019 vUo;s fofgr dsysY;k vkd`rhca/kkuqlkj jkT;krhy ek/;fed] mPp ek/;fed rlsp ofj”B egkfo|ky;kl tksMysY;k mPp ek/;fedP;k oxkZrhy f’k{kdsrj deZpk&;kaph ins fu/kkZfjr d:u vfrfjDr Bj.kk&;k o uO;kus fuekZ.k gks.kk&;k inkapk ri’khy lacaf/kr f’k{k.kkf/kdkjh o foHkkxh; f’k{k.k milapkyd ;kauh f’k{k.k lapkyuky;kl ,d efgU;kr lknj djkok- rnuarj jkT;krhy ekU;rkizkIr [kktxh vuqnkfur ek/;fed ‘kkGk] mPp ek/;fed ‘kkGk] Lora= dfu”B egkfo|ky;s ;ke/;s izpfyr fud”kkizek.ks eatwj vlysyh ins ;k lq/kkfjr fud”kkuqlkj vuqKs; gksr vlrhy o rh fjDr vlrhy rj v’kh ins ‘kklukus iwohZp eatwj dsysyh vlY;kus rh izi=&c ;sFkhy dk;Zi/nrh] vVh o ‘krhZuqlkj izFke lek;kstukus Hkj.;kph dk;Zokgh djkoh- lek;kstukus v’kh eatwj o vuqKs; ins Hkjrk ;sr ulrhy lacaf/kr O;oLFkkiukl v’kh fjDr ins Hkjko;kph vlY;kl] l{ke izkf/kdk&;kph iwoZijokuxh ?ksmup Hkjrk ;srhy- ¼5½ loZ fjDr ins Hkjrkuk lacaf/kr O;oLFkkiukus ekxkloxhZ;kalkBh ‘kklukus osGksosGh fofgr dsysY;k vkj{k.kkuqlkj ljGlsok Hkjrh o inksUurhlkBh Lora= fcanwukekoyh Bso.ks o R;kl laacaf/kr foHkkxh; vk;qDr dk;kZy;krhy ekxkloxZ d{kkph ekU;rk ?ks.ks R;kapsoj ca/kudkjd vkgs- ;klanHkkZr ekxkloxhZ;kapk ljGlsok Hkjrh rlsp inksUurhojhy vuq’ks”k Hk:u dk<.;kckcr lkekU; iz’kklu foHkkxkpk ‘kklu fu.kZ; dz- chlhlh@2002@1306@16&c] fn-07 vkWDVkscj] 2003 o ‘kkys; f’k{k.k foHkkxkps ‘kklu ifji=d dz-,l,l,u 2002@470@ ¼4@2002½ @ekf’k&2] fn-25 Qsczqokjh] 2003 e/khy o ;klanHkkZr osGksosGh ‘kklukus fuxZfer dsysY;k vkns’kkaps dkVsdksji.ks ikyu lacaf/kr O;oLFkkiu o l{ke izkf/kdkjh djhy- ” 6 wp 8624.2022 6. The Management has not been granted permission by the Education Officer to fill in the post of Junior Clerk. The Respondent No.3 Management published Advertisement in a purported publication which is not identified as being a daily or a weekly or fortnightly. The name of the publication is ‘Ghanaghat’ (घणाघात), published on 20.05.2019. It is a 4 pages publication and priced at Rs.1/-. The Advertisement indicates that one post of Junior Clerk has to be filled in. The Management has not sought approval from the Education Officer as regards the reservation / backlog etc. Permission has not been granted to fill in the post, which is purportedly vacant from 2016. 7. The learned AGP submits that the Government Resolution mandates that such Advertisement should be published in at least 2 newspapers which are widely circulated. The publication 'घणाघात' placed on record cannot be said to be a newspaper which is widely circulated. 7 wp 8624.2022 It is an unknown publication. Having published the Advertisement in such a publication, clearly indicates the intention of the Management that the post which is to be filled in, is not to be noticed by the general public at large. 8. The appointment order issued to the Petitioner dated 17.06.2019 is said to be as per Annexure ‘D’. Clause 2, indicates that though the Petitioner is on probation, it would be a temporary engagement and after the period ends on 16.02.2021, the service of the Petitioner would be brought to an end. Below the said clause, it is mentioned that the appointment of the Petitioner is on permanent basis, after completion of the probation period. 9.
Legal Reasoning
Shri Thombre, vehemently contended that there is no requirement of publishing the advertisement in a widely circulated newspaper and there is no requirement of prior permission of the Education Officer. We are unable to accept such submission. 8 wp 8624.2022 10. It is undisputed that the staffing pattern in so far as the non-teaching staff in the State of Maharashtra was not approved for several years. It is by the Government Resolution dated 28.01.2019, that the staffing pattern was formalised. Absence of the prior permission of the Education Officer, without obtaining the approval to publish an advertisement and avoiding publication in 2 widely circulated newspapers, are factors which are glaring. In fact, the publication placed on record creates a serious suspicion about the intention of the Management of not letting the public know that a post is being filled in by the Management. 11. In this backdrop, we are unable to hold that the impugned order could be branded as being perverse or erroneous. 12. This Petition is, therefore, dismissed. [ARUN R. PEDNEKER, J.] [RAVINDRA V. GHUGE, J.] marathe