Geeta Mallikarjun Patil v. The Director Higher Education M S Pune And Another

2025:BHC-AUG:8188-DB Writ Petition No.5097/2017 :: 1 ::

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE OF BOMBAY

BENCH AT AURANGABAD WRIT PETITION NO.5097 OF 2017 Dr. Geeta Mallikarjun Patil ... PETITIONER

VERSUS

The Director, Higher Education, M.S.

Pune & Another ... RESPONDENTS .......

Mr. M.P. Tripathi, Advocate holding for Mr. N.B. Khandare, Senior Counsel for Petitioner Mr. P.R. Bharaswadkar, A.G.P. for Respondent No.1. Mr. P.L. Shahane, Advocate for Respondent No.2. .......

CORAM:

ALOK ARADHE, CJ. & RAVINDRA V. GHUGE, J.

DATE:

19th MARCH, 2025.

ORDER (Per Ravindra V Ghuge, J) 1.

The Petitioner has directly approached this Court alleging that, her seniority has been affected while granting the step-up pay-scale. She joined as an Associate Professor with Respondent No.2 University, on 14/8/2013. Another Professor, namely Dr. Ambhore, is said to have joined as an Associate Professor, on 13/9/2013. The Petitioner claims to be senior to him and, therefore, prays for stepping of her

Writ Petition No.5097/2017 :: 2 ::

salary in terms of the Government Resolution dated 12/8/2009.

2.

The Petitioner seeks to invoke our jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for seeking a Writ of Mandamus, without approaching the Grievances Committee under Section 79 of the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016.

3.

The learned Counsel for the Petitioner submits that, the Petitioner would approach the Grievances Committee and prays for a time-line for an early decision. 4.

In view of the above, this Petition is disposed off with the aforesaid liberty. If the Petitioner approaches the Grievances Committee with such an application, within 15 days, the Committee shall endeavour to decide the same within a period of 90 days from the date of the appearance of all the stakeholders on notice.

(RAVINDRA V. GHUGE, J.) (CHIEF JUSTICE) FMPathan/-