The Sudhagad Education Society, Pali And ORS v. The State Of Maharashtra Thr Prin. Sec. Dept. Of School Edu. And ORS
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 6949 OF 2025 Kum. Ratna Ramesh Salunke And Ors.
...Petitioners
Versus
The State of Maharashtra Through Principal Secretary, Department of School Education And Ors.
...Respondents
WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 6950 OF 2025 Sou. Sanjivani Shailesh Patil And Ors.
...Petitioners
Versus
The State of Maharashtra Through Principal Secretary, Department of School Education And Ors.
...Respondents
WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 10116 OF 2025 The Sudhagad Education Society, Pali And Ors.
...Petitioners
Versus
The State of Maharashtra Through Principal Secretary, Department of School Education And Ors.
...Respondents
__________ Mr. Anand S. Patil, Advocate for the Petitioners. Mr. M. M. Pable, AGP for the State/Respondent No. 1 in WP/6949/2025. Mrs. P. M. Joshi Deshpande, AGP for the State/Respondent No. 1 in WP/6950/2025.
Ms. Priyanka Chavan, AGP for the State/Respondent No. 1 in WP/10116/2025. Mr. Rajendra Bajirao Palve, Director, SES is present in the Court. __________ CORAM :
RAVINDRA V. GHUGE & ASHWIN D. BHOBE, JJ.
DATE :
26th SEPTEMBER, 2025.
P.C. :
1.
In the hearing before us on 16th September, 2025, on instructions, the learned Advocate representing the Petitioners and the Sudhagad Education Society made a clear and unequivocal statement in the Court that the State Government's Pavitra Portal was never opened after the judgment was delivered by the Nagpur Bench in the Public Interest Litigation, directing the introduction of the Pavitra Portal. Then a statement was made on instructions that had the Pavitra Portal be opened, the ID for the Sudhagad Education Society to be used for recruitment of the teachers and the employees, was never allotted to the Education Society.
2.
We had, therefore, directed the Petitioner Society to file a specific Affidavit through the Chairman to place this statement on record. After directing the Petitioner, we directed the Education Department to file an Affidavit as to whether the Pavitra Portal was activated and whether the ID was allotted to the Sudhagad Institution. 3.
The Education Department has filed the Affidavit indicating that the Pavitra Portal ID was allotted by way of a Saral ID to the Education Institution. The said institution uses the Portal for uploading all informations about their employees. However, the ID is deliberately not used for recruitment through Pavitra Portal.
4.
The Sudhagad Institution has still not filed the said Affidavit. We, therefore, take it that the statement made on the earlier date was a misrepresentation made to the Court in an attempt to mislead the Court to believe the argument of the Institution that the Government never activated the Portal and the ID was never allotted to the Sudhagad Institution.
5.
We could have dismissed this Petitions today by imposing cost of at least Rs. 1,00,000/- in each matter. However, the learned Advocate for the Management desires to file a Rejoinder Affidavit. 6.
The learned Advocate for the Sudhagad Institution makes a statement on instructions from Shri. Rajendra Bajirao Palve, Director, SES, that though the Pavitra Portal may have been activated, no ID has been given to the Institution for the purpose of utilizing it for making fresh appointments. This statement is made in the face of the statement made by the learned Additional Government Pleader through the Affidavit, that the Saral ID has been granted and this Institution has been using the same for other purposes, except for the purposes of recruitment. 7.
Let such Rejoinder Affidavit be filed on or before 30th September, 2025. If such an Affidavit is not filed, we would close this matter for judgment. We make it clear to the Petitioner Institution that if we conclude that the Court has been misled, in as much as, the State
Government has been misled in the matters of recruitment and the existence of the Pavitra Portal Pranali and the allotment of Saral ID, we would be directing the State Government to initiate strict action against the Sudhagad Education Society.
8.
Stand over to 1st October, 2025.
[ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.] [RAVINDRA V. GHUGE, J.] by GITALAXMI KRISHNA KOTAWADEKAR Date:
2025.09.29 15:12:37 +0530 GITALAXMI KRISHNA KOTAWADEKAR