Hajare Namdev Krishna And ORS v. The State Of Maharshtra Through The Secretary And ORS

1 918-WP-7981-2024.odt

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 7981 OF 2024 Hajare Namdev Krishna And Ors

...Petitioners

Versus

The State of Maharashtra and Ors.

...Respondents

**** Mr. Sanjeev Deore a/w Suchita Pawar and Jitendra Pagare for the Petitioners.

Mr. S.B. Kalel, AGP for Respondent Nos. 1 to 4/State. **** SNEHA NITIN CHAVAN CORAM :

RAVINDRA V. GHUGE AND M.M. SATHAYE, JJ.

by SNEHA NITIN CHAVAN Date:

2024.10.22 10:55:09 +0530 DATE :

16th OCTOBER, 2024 P.C. :

1.

Out of 4 Petitioners, Petitioner No.3 Shivaji Tanhaji Kedar has not acquired the TET certificate. The rest have acquired TET/CTET certificates. There is no dispute that the services of these four Petitioners have been approved by the Competent Authority. 2.

On 7th September, 2023, this Court, at the Aurangabad Bench, has delivered an extensive order in Writ Petition No. 11121 of 2023 filed by Dattatry Devidas Sonwale And Another V. State Of Maharashtra And Others.

2 918-WP-7981-2024.odt 3.

In identical set of circumstances, this Court has passed several orders and protected the services of those candidates, who either have an existing approval or who have acquired their TET certificate, after the cut off date, 31.3.2019.

4.

In the order that we had passed in Dattatry Devidas Sonwale (supra), we have recorded in paragraph Nos. 8, 9 and 10 as under:

"8.

This is a Court of equity and while passing orders, this Court has to balance the equities. If the interest of the teachers are to be protected by passing a conditional or a qualified order, the interest of the State Government, which extends the salary grants also has to take into account, as the State Government insists that their salary grants should not be utilized for payment of salaries to those teachers, who do not have requisite qualification.

9.

In the light of the peculiar circumstances as noted above, we find that, it would be appropriate to bind the Petitioners with an undertaking that, they would abide by the decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, and if it is concluded by the Hon'ble Supreme Court that, they cannot be continued in employment, they would suffer the consequences. By filing such undertaking the equities would be balanced while passing an order granting them the salaries by allotment of 'Shalarth-ID'. Needless to state that, if the Hon'ble Supreme Court concludes that the TET is mandatory, such teachers will then have to be removed from employment.

10.

In view of the above, this Writ Petition is partly allowed. The impugned order dated 11/08/2023 is quashed and set aside, with the following directions :- (a) The Petitioners would tender an undertaking

3 918-WP-7981-2024.odt that, they would abide by the conclusions that would be drawn by the Hon'ble Supreme Court, and if the verdict is adverse to those teachers who do not have the TET qualification or have cleared the TET after 31/03/2019, or as the case may be, they would abide by the same without raising any cause of action. (b) Let such affidavit undertaking be filed in this Court within 15 days from today and a copy be tendered to the concerned Education Officer within the same timeline.

(c) Considering the above, the proposals of the Petitioners would be considered for entering their names in the 'Shalarth-ID' on their own merits, save and except, the reason that they are not TET qualified. Needless to state, the proposals would be decided within 30 days after the submissions of the undertakings.

(d) If an adverse order is passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court by which the teachers are covered by clause (a), the State Government would not recover the salaries already paid to them, since they have worked for those tenures and they have earned their salaries for performing their duties.

(e) In the event, the candidates like the Petitioners are protected by the Hon'ble Supreme Court's conclusions and they are held to be qualified to continue in employment, they would be entitled for all service benefits like promotions, increments, etc. 5.

In view of the above and subject to the directions set out in paragraph No.10 reproduced above, this Writ Petition is partly allowed. Since the Petitioners have acquired TET qualification after the cut off date, their names shall be entered in the Sharath ID. If the condition of

4 918-WP-7981-2024.odt filing of affidavit undertaking is not complied with, the Petitioners will not be entitled to any of the benefits as set out in paragraph 10 reproduced above and this order. The benefit of this order will operate prospectively and only to the extent of the admissible salary grants. (M.M. SATHAYE, J.) (RAVINDRA V. GHUGE, J.)