Maruti Dharmaraj Dhandore And ORS v. The State Of Maharashtra Thr The Secretary School Education And Sports Dept. And ORS

Shailaja

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO.424 OF 2024 Maruti Dharamraj Dhandore and others ] Petitioners versus The State of Maharashtra and others ] Respondents .....

Mr. Prashant Bhavake, for Petitioners.

Mr. A.P. Vanarase, A.G.P, for Respondent - State. .....

CORAM : M.S. KARNIK & AJIT B. KADETHANKAR, JJ.

DATE : 22nd DECEMBER, 2025.

ORAL ORDER: [PER M.S. KARNIK, J.]:

1.

Heard Mr. Bhavake, learned Counsel for the petitioners and Mr. Vanarase, learned A.G.P for respondent - State. 2.

We are not referring to the facts in detail. This is a case where the approvals which were granted to the appointment of the petitioners were cancelled by the Deputy Director of Education, Pune Region, on the grounds mentioned in the impugned order. It is the contention of the learned Counsel for the petitioners that adequate opportunity of hearing was not given to the petitioners and hence, SHAILAJA SHRIKANT HALKUDE SHRIKANT HALKUDE Date: 2025.12.24 12:18:52 +0530

the impugned order is vitiated by the reason of non-compliance of principles of natural justice.

3.

Learned A.G.P, on the other hand, invited our attention to the aidavit-in-reply dated 14th July, 2025 iled on behalf of respondent No.4 by Dr. Ganpat More, Deputy Director of Education, Pune Region, Pune. Relying on paragraph 5 of the aidavit-in-reply, it is stated that despite ample opportunity given to the petitioners, they have failed to avail the opportunity, in fact, have intentionally not taken steps to ile the documents and the submissions on record, as directed. 4.

We do ind substance in the submission of the learned A.G.P that opportunity was given to the petitioners. The petitioners are working as "Assistant Teachers"/"Peons". They were earlier granted approval and even their names were included in Shalarth ID, which is now sought to be cancelled. Learned Counsel for the petitioners submits that if one opportunity is given to the petitioners, the petitioners shall place on record necessary documents and submissions for consideration of the Deputy Director of Education. 5.

In the facts and circumstances of the case, we are of the view that one opportunity needs to be given to the petitioners to make out their case before the Deputy Director of Education considering

that there is a question of cancellation of approval to the appointments of the petitioners as Assistant Teachers /Peons. 6.

Learned Counsel for the petitioners assures that the petitioners will appear before the Deputy Director of Education on 29th December, 2025 at 11.00 a.m and co-operate with him. Accordingly, impugned order is quashed and set aside. The petitioners shall remain present before the Deputy Director of Education on 29th December, 2025 at 11.00 a.m. Deputy Director of Education to aford the petitioners a fresh opportunity of hearing and pass appropriate orders, in accordance with law, on the Show Cause Notice issued to the petitioners, which is at page No.99 of the petition, within a period of ten weeks from 29th December, 2025. Deputy Director of Education to give reasonable time to the petitioners and the Management to produce the documents and place their submissions on record. Serious consequences are visited upon the petitioners by the cancellation of approvals. 7.

Learned Counsel for the petitioners, on instructions, undertakes that the petitioners shall not ask for unnecessary adjournments and shall co-operate with the Deputy Director of Education.

8.

The petition is disposed of in the aforesaid terms. No order as to costs.

[AJIT B. KADETHANKAR, J.] [M.S. KARNIK, J.]