Arun Ramling Tikate And ORS v. The State Of Maharashtra Thr Its Secretary Rural Development And ORS
Digitally signed by GAURI AMIT GAEKWAD Date:
2025.02.26 10:54:34 +0530 GAURI AMIT GAEKWAD
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO.2518 OF 2025 Arun Ramling Tikate and Ors.
....Petitioners
Versus
The State of Maharashtra and Ors.
....Respondents ---- Mr. Sandeep B. Sontakke for the Petitioners.
Ms. D.S. Deshmukh, AGP for Respondent No.1.
Ms. Priyanka Chavan for the Respondent - Solapur Zilla Parishad. ---- CORAM : RAVINDRA V. GHUGE & ASHWIN D. BHOBE, JJ.
DATE : 24th FEBRUARY, 2025 ORAL FINAL ORDER (Per Ravindra V. Ghuge, J.) :- 1.
All the Petitioners are identically placed. The learned Advocate representing the Respondent Zilla Parishad, Solapur agrees.
2.
The Petitioners are the employees who were working with the Respondent Zilla Parishad and superannuated from employment. All of them were subjected to recovery of amounts, purportedly for the reason that excess amounts were paid to them, under wrongful revised pay scales/erroneous revised pay scales, calculated on the basis of acquiring the certificate of MS-CIT etc. These pay scales were revised more than a decade ago.
3.
The grievance of these Petitioners is that recoveries have been initiated against them, from their retiral benefits/ pensionary benefits. In some cases, amounts have already been recovered. A chart showing the details of the petitioners, their dates of superannuation, dates of impugned orders and amounts recovered from their retiral benefits/pensionary benefits, are as under : Sr.
No.
Name of the Petitioners Date of Superannuation Amount Recovered from the Petitioners Arun Ramling Tikate 31.08.2021 1,06,673/- Kalidas Shivdas Chavan 30.06.2024 46,958/- Popat Vishwanath Talekar 58,113/- Prabhavati Achyutrao Patil @ Prabhavati Prakash Dikshit 31.01.2022 44,284/- Sudhakar Bhaurao Mirgane 44,956/- Shivaji Sukhadeo Doke 31.12.2019 26,755/- Balu Jagannath Mohite 1,00,059/- Salim Yasin Mujawar 31.08.2023 68,255/- Vishwanath Hudaji Lande 31.05.2021 3,49,192/- Dilip Namdev Yadav 23,580/- Asha Malojirao Damre 30.11.2018 1,24,718/- Sanjay Jayant Kulkarni 30.11.2024 47,591/- Shobha Kalidas Jagadale 31.10.2023 47,169/- Jagannath Ganpati Kolhe 31.05.2021 37,332/- Gorakhnath Manik Gore 46,681/- Appasaheb Rajaram Darade 31.05.2021 66,573/- Sunanda Narhari Barkul 31.03.2020 51,274/-
Sunanda Murlidhar Kale 30.06.2019 52,367/- Nanda Bandu Barche 30.06.2019 49,781/- Narayan Dhanaji Jadhavar 31.05.2021 51,120/- Ashruba Shatrughn Jadhavar 30.11.2014 56,570/- Kalavati Bhau Gore 59,330/- Laxman Chandrahar Piske 30.09.2022 44,341/- Pandharinath Bhanudas Navale 92,419/- Megha Narayan Kulkarni 56,546/- Suman Pandurang Walake 01.11.2018 23,178/- Abhimanyu Satyawan Mirgane 68,247/- Suman Bajirao Ghuge @ Suman Tukaram Jadhavar 30.04.2023 42,798/- Prema Rajendra Wani 31.05.2021 90,881/- Kalyan Shivaji Shendge 30.09.2024 84,946/- Pandurang Shivdas Khamkar 49,665/- Savita Chandrakant Ghongade 48,514/- Mohiddin Akbar Nadaf 31.07.2024 42,807/- Pandurang Vitthal Karad 49,927/- Uttam Shivdas Dhotre 1,13,953/- Bapusaheb Bhagwat Mirgane 23,409/- Bhausaheb Nivrutti Gund 24.05.2024 55,442/- Rajeev Madan Kande 52,801/- Ramraja Uttamrao Jagdale 23,483/- Kalpana Ramraj Jagdale @ Kalpana Vinayakrao Bhosale 31.03.2019 48,689/- Laxman Vaijinath Agale 31.05.2021 1,40,116/- Tabassum Sayyad Ahamad Patel 31.06.2023 3,75,320/- Laxmikant Mukund Dixit 30.09.2023 47,555/-
Chandrant Dagadu Mirgane 53,794/- Mahadev Tukaram Nanaware 49,329/- Komal Madhavrao Ghuge @ Komal Piraji Karad 52,163/- Surekha Lahu Shinde 30.09.2022 58,064/- Vishwanath Dattu Mundhe 30.09.2022 52,715/- Mahadeo Laxman Shinde 30.11.2023 2,16,146/- Mahadev Rambhau Kande 1,30,057/- Narayan Yetal Kangude 46,954/- Shamal Dashrath Jadhav @ Shamal w/o. Narayan Kangude 31.05.2018 30,664/- Pramila Sundarrao Jagdale 29.02.2021 44,993/- Sundarrao Baburao Jagdale 31.05.2021 44,993/- Radhika Krushnat Vedpathak 28.02.2023 48,270/- Bharat Vishwanath Honrao 31.05.2021 45,989/- Suman Rajabhau Ratnaparkhe @ Suman w/o.
Mohan Thombare 51,893/- Bhaskar Tukaram Dhakane 72,866/- Gurappa Yashwant Mhamane 47,591/- Purushottam Limbaji Ayare 24.05.2024 45,808/- Rajendra Siddheshwar Ghongade 31.10.2023 46,731/- Noorjaha Husen Hakim 31.05.2018 1,05,298/- Shrimant Vitthal Bagal 49,093/- Surekha Sanjeev Ramdasi 31.03.2024 49,077/- Ashok Vitthal Bhuse 46,731/- Laxman Ramchandra Bhuse 46,731/- Sunanda Motilal Sargule 02.10.2017 54,004/- Mahaling Tulshiram 58,440/-
Shikhare Shamrav Bhimrav Khankal 68,029/- Pratik Hanumant Hundekari 15.01.2016 2,04,494/- Arjun Subrao Pawar 48,606/- Sajjan Neminath Khadake 30.09.2021 43,338/- Prakash Gangaram Korake 21.05.2021 49,093/- Shakuntala wd/o. Sahebrao Gadekar 75,901/- Kishor Virkumar Ropalkar 30.06.2021 85,140/- Gorakh Krushna Bore 1,13,953/- Mohan Mahadeo Rasal 31.08.2020 52,887/- Ranjana Prakash Khatake 30.09.2018 34,115/- Govind Ramchandra Kulkarni 31.12.2023 52,986/- Suman Sopan Shirke 50,258/- Sushila Sandipan Khandekar @ Sushila w/o. Tanaji Anuse 47,508/- Sunil Gurunath Shinde 29.02.2020 54,713/- Nana Baburao Naiknaware 31.05.2017 31,359/- Ravindra Ramchandra Bhalerao 47,539/- Sarjerao Vasantrao Ghadage 31.07.2022 2,29,833/- Arun Mahadev Waste 31.05.2017 13,073/- Suresh Narayan Pakhare 47,233/- Mangal Suresh Deshmukh@ Mangal Vasantrao Deshmukh 43,704/- Shahaji Tulshiram Londhe 56,763/- Kundlik Namdev Shelake 30.06.2017 26,500/- Navnath Narayan Devakar 31.05.2018 2,56,893/- Sharada Prakash Kawade 49,940/- Gundiba Mhaku Hargude 66,764/- Nirmala Shripati Kulkarni 31.10.2019 84,550/-
Nagnath Madhukar Sathe 3,25,581/- Renuka Rajkumar Sakhare 31.10.2018 35,996/- Huwanand Davalappa Salagar 55,747/- Prabhavati Bhimrao Kore 30.06.2024 2,05,631/- Vijayalaxmi Sudhir Parabatrao 31.05.2021 83,564/- Lalita Bhimashankar Dhuttargi 30.07.2019 2,61,670/- Rajashri Ramesh Kulkarni 46,334/- Bhagyashri wd/o. Vishwas Vhatkar 31.09.2021 5,77,624/- Sushma Janardhan Gaikwad 30.04.2021 2,21,058/- Suman Vaijinath Sabale 60,768/- Shobha Bhimrao Gangadhare 65,442/- Raosaheb Yedaba Bhalerao 59,534/- Satywan Pandurang Sathe 1,34,237/- Ganpat Kondiba Adlinge 31.05.2021 73,543/- Prakash Madhukar Pawar 30.04.2024 5,04,926/- Ramakant Shivaling Sherjale 31.07.2023 65,130/- Parmeshwar Shivanna Bansode 31.01.2022 2,15,976/- Bhimrao Narayan Ganagadhare 31.05.2014 2,40,191/- Dhondiba Lahu Chawan 2,38,906/- Shashikala Mallikarjun Awate 31.01.2020 49,470/- Bibhishan Vishwanath Sable 48,478/- Abdul Matin Makbulsaheb Valsangkar 28.02.2022 1,28,314/- Shoula wd/o. Sharayya Swami 31.07.2022 2,24,533/- Mallesha Appaso Bagale 47,064/-
Ambanna Bhimsha Telunagi 68,113/- Ashok Neru Naik 30.06.2020 40,915/- Nagnath Appasaheb Chavan 31.05.2021 42,581/- Jafar Abdul Mulla 1,83,194/- Chandrashekhar Revansidhappa Shivgunde 41,798/- Malappa Shankar Kavathe 35,811/- Ashatai Mallinath Nadgire 31.01.2022 1,43,111/- Sidramayya Shivayya Swami 31.08.2023 44,801/- Ismail Moula Murdi 38,921/- Sanganna Chandrashekhar Fatale 36,339/- Nagamma Kallayya Swami @ Nagamma Suresh Swami 36,607/- Sunanda Sangappa Birajdar 22,716/- Abdul Razzak Mahibubsab Balaganur 31.07.2019 41,407/- Jagdevi Shrikrishna Sutar 30.04.2021 41,628/- Sidraya Shivappa Birajdar 56,716/- Chandrashekhar Shankar Patil 31.05.2021 39,208/- Mahadev Sharanappa Hodalure 66,436/- Ramkrushna Tipanna Salgare 31.12.2018 35,465/- Ashok Shankarrao Kulkarni 30.04.2018 23,762/- Ramchandra Mahadev Patil 37,371/- Gurunath Bhimashankar Sutar 31.01.2023 50,192/- Arun Laxman Popasbhat 40,690/- Nirmala Ram Ingale 39,618/- Dattatraya Vitthal Sutar 42,142/- Bharati Mallikarjun Sakkargi 31.05.2018 26,372/- Vajeer Shilar Shipai Shaikh 37,085/-
Subhash Nivrutti Suravase 38,921/- Tehsina Tausiq Ujani 30.06.2020 78,938/- Najamunnisa Chadchankar wd/o. Kasim Chadchankar 25.10.2022 86,952/- Kalappa Siddhappa Kattimani 44,250/- Mahadevi Ashok Nilvani 1,68,946/- Sabakar Shamrao Balchhatre 62,734/- Mahadev Dnyanu Kalunge 2,56,436/- Sindhu Mahadev Mane 30.06.2023 48,971/- Nagnath Dattatraya Todkari 31.05.2018 39,573/- Panditrao Sadhu Kambale 6,93,436/- Vijayalaxmi wd/o. Vashishth Bhosale 19.11.2020 2,91,142/- Doke Hanmant Shamrav 60,969/- Uttam Devappa Dhage 58,366/- Sushila Shivaji Surwase 29.02.2024 53,899/- Shankar Nivrutti Jadhav 50,317/- Krishna Ramchandra Jankar 53,413/- Swamiling Revansidha Budhehalkar 25.09.2019 3,07,803/- 4.
We have considered the strenuous submissions of the learned Advocates. It is, however, undisputed that none of these Petitioners had played any fraud or were personally involved in wrongful revision of their pay scales or orchestrating wrongful revision by manipulating the record. There is no allegation of fraud or deceit against any of them. No undertaking was acquired from them as and when the revised pay scale become payable. In some
cases, at the stroke of retirement, a condition was imposed that they should execute an undertaking and in these coercive circumstances, that undertaking were extracted from some of them. 5.
The learned Advocate representing the Zilla Parishad as well as the learned AGP, submit that once an undertaking is executed, the case of the Petitioners would be covered by the law laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in High Court of Punjab and Haryana and others vs. Jagdev Singh, 2016 AIR (SCW) 3523. Reliance is placed on the judgment delivered by this Court on 1st September, 2021, in Writ Petition No. 13262 of 2018 filed by Ananda Vikram Baviskar Vs. State of Maharashtra and others. 6.
We have referred to the law laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in High Court of Punjab and Haryana and others vs. Jagdev Singh (supra). However, the record reveals that no undertaking was taken from these Petitioners when the pay scales were revised. The undertakings from some of them were taken at the stroke of their retirement.
7.
An undertaking has to be taken from the candidate on the day the revised pay scale is made applicable to him and the
payment commences. At the stroke of superannuation of the said employee, asking him to tender an undertaking, practically amounts to an afterthought on the part of the employer and a mode of compelling the candidate to execute an undertaking since they are apprehensive that their retiral benefits would not be released until such undertaking is executed. Such an undertaking will not have the same sanctity of an undertaking executed when the payment of revised pay scale had commenced. We, therefore, respectfully conclude that the view taken in High Court of Punjab and Haryana and others vs. Jagdev Singh (supra), would not be applicable to the case of these Petitioners, more so since the recovery is initiated after their superannuation.
8.
Taking into account that these Petitioners were not involved in any mischief, fraud or deceit in orchestrating their wrongful pay revision, the law laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Syed Abdul Qadir vs. State of Bihar and others, 2009 (3) SCC 475 and State of Punjab and other vs. Rafiq Masih (White Washer) etc. (2015) 4 SCC 334 = AIR 2015 SC 696, would apply to this case.
9.
The Writ Petition is partly allowed. The impugned orders are quashed and set aside. The amounts due and payable to the Petitioners, as well as to the widows and other legal heirs, if that is the case, after the superannuation of the said employees/death of the employees, would be paid to these Petitioners or their widows or other legal heirs, if that is the case, within a period of 90 days. 10.
The learned Advocate for the Petitioners submits, on instructions, that the Petitioners would not claim any interest on the amount which has already been recovered from them, to the extent of it's repayment. In view thereof, if the amounts are not paid within 90 days, interest at the rate of Rs.5% p.a. from the date of this order, will be paid.
(ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.) (RAVINDRA V. GHUGE, J.)