Swapnil Pradip Puri And ORS v. The State Of Maharashtra Through The Ministry Of W. D And ORS
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 254 OF 2025 Swapnil Pradip Puri & Ors.
...Petitioners
Versus
The State of Maharashtra & Ors.
...Respondents
Ms. Neeta Karnik, Sr. Advocate a/w Mr. Azharuddin Khan i/by Mr. Ajit Kenjale, Advocate for the Petitioners.
Ms. Priyanka Chavan, AGP for the Respondent - State. Mr. Bapusaheb Sonawane, under Secretary, Water Resources Department.
CORAM : RAVINDRA V. GHUGE & ASHWIN D. BHOBE, JJ.
DATE : 24th FEBRUARY, 2025 P.C. :- by SUNNY ANKUSHRAO THOTE Date:
2025.02.26 10:53:34 +0530 SUNNY ANKUSHRAO THOTE 1.
We are only considering Prayer Clause 33(a). Insofar as the other prayers are concerned, since they would lie before the learned Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal, liberty to the Petitioners to avail of a remedy, as is permissible in law. 2.
The issue in relation to Prayer Clause 33(a) pertains to the implementation of the Model Specimen Recruitment Rules dated 9th September, 2021.
3.
The learned Sr. Advocate representing the Petitioners has tendered a copy of the communication dated 10th January, 2025, addressed by the Desk Officer, Irrigation Department, Government of Maharashtra to the Executive Engineers of various Boards. At Clause No.3, 30 days time has been given for the implementation of the Model Specimen Recruitment Rules dated 9th September, 2021. A photostat copy of the said communication (2 Pages) is taken on record and marked as 'X-1' for identification. 4.
The learned AGP tenders a photostat copy of the communication dated 20th February, 2025, addressed by Anil Deokate, Deputy Secretary, Government of Maharashtra to the Government Pleader. The same is marked as 'X-2' for identification. On instructions, from an Officer present in the Court, representing the Water Resources Department, the learned AGP submits that the Government Resolution dated 9th September, 2021, issued by the General Administration Department, which is commonly known as the Model Specimen Recruitment Rules, is pending approval from the MPSC. Thereafter, it would travel to the Law and Judiciary Department, where from it would travel to the office of the concerned Minister. Thereafter, it would reach the office of the
Hon'ble Chief Minister and then it would finally reach the office of His Excellency, the Governor of Maharashtra, for his assent. 5.
In view of the above, this Writ Petition is disposed off with the following directions :- (a) The MPSC would forward the file, by following the due procedure laid down in law, to the Law and Judiciary Department, on or before 31st March, 2025. Thereafter, Law and Judiciary Department would forward it to the concerned Ministry, within seven days. Thereafter, the concerned Ministry would process the said file by following the due procedure, on or before 31st May, 2025 and ensure that it reaches the office of the Hon'ble Chief Minister of the State of Maharashtra, on or before the said date. Thereafter, we would appreciate if the Hon'ble Chief Minister forwards the said file to the Office of His Excellency, the Governor of Maharashtra, on or before 30th June, 2025 for his decision. 6.
We request His Excellency, the Governor of Maharashtra to deal with the said file and endeavour to issue an appropriate direction, on or before 31st July, 2025.
7.
Before parting with this matter, we call upon the learned Government Pleader to inform the Chief Secretary of the State of Maharashtra, to instruct all the departments, to ensure that the streets named after Freedom Fighters, which are mentioned in the addresses of the various departments on their letter heads, would be spelt properly showing the required respect to the said Freedom Fighters. We are constrained to say this since we have noticed that the name, 'Madame Cama', has been typed as 'Madam Kama' on the letter heads of the documents 'X-2'.
8.
The learned Registrar Judicial is also directed to forwarded a copy of this order to the Chief Secretary of the State of Maharashtra, for immediate action.
(ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.) (RAVINDRA V. GHUGE, J.)