Bombay High CourtWP/10213/2025disposed off

Sunil Vitthal Phand And ORS v. The State Of Maharashtra Thr The Secretary And ORS

2025-07-28Hon'Ble The Chief Justice , Hon'Ble Justice Smt Manjusha Ajay Deshpande7 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION (SR. NO.22) WRIT PETITION NO.5456 OF 2025 The Maharashtra Rajya Padvidhar Prathamik Shikshak Va Kendrapramukh Sabha & Ors.

WITH INTERIM APPLICATION (ST) NO.25647 OF 2025 WRIT PETITION NO.5456 OF 2025 Swarajya Shikshak Sanghatana Maharashtra Rajya Through Chairman The Maharashtra Rajya Padvidhar Prathamik Shikshak Va Kendrapramukh Sabha & Ors.

WITH INTERIM APPLICATION (ST) NO.21996 OF 2025 WRIT PETITION NO.5456 OF 2025 Dhyaneshwar S/o Balasaheb Sonawane .. Petitioner The Maharashtra Rajya Padvidhar Prathamik Shikshak Va Kendrapramukh Sabha & Ors.

WITH WRIT PETITION (ST) NO.13145 OF 2025 WITH CONTEMPT PETITION NO.412 OF 2025 Shashank Gunaji Atak & Ors.

The Union of India through the Secretary Education Department Shastri Bhavan & Ors.

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WITH WRIT PETITION NO.5759 OF 2025 Dilip Ramchandra Mahadik & Ors.

The Union of India through the Secretary Education Department & Ors.

WITH WRIT PETITION NO.6213 OF 2025 Rajaram S/o. Baburao Kavitkar & Ors.

The Union of India through the Secretary Education Department & Ors.

WITH INTERIM APPLICATION (ST) NO.24313 OF 2025 WRIT PETITION NO.6213 OF 2025 Madhusuudan S/o. Ramdas Ghode & Ors.

Rajaram S/o. Baburao Kavitkar & Ors.

WITH WRIT PETITION (ST) NO.15761 OF 2025 Ranvadi Budruk Zilla Parishad Primary School & Anr.

WITH WRIT PETITION NO.6028 OF 2025 Rajendra Ramchandra Chandiwade & Ors.

WITH WRIT PETITION (ST) NO.15782 OF 2025 2/7

The Hind Education Society Miraj & Ors.

WITH WRIT PETITION (ST) NO.16603 OF 2025 Maharashtra Rajya Graduate Primary Teachers And Kendra Pramukh Association Through Manoj Marathe The Union of India & Ors.

AND (SR. NO.23) WRIT PETITION NO.8239 OF 2025 Sanjay Jagannath Shende & Ors.

WITH WRIT PETITION NO.8753 OF 2025 WITH WRIT PETITION NO.8754 OF 2025 WITH INTERIM APPLICATION NO.10267 OF 2025 WRIT PETITION NO.8754 OF 2025 The Maharashtra Rajya Prathamik Sangh & Ors.

AND (SR. NO.24) WRIT PETITION NO.9977 OF 2025 Santosh Pilaji Sabale & Ors.

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AND (SR. NO.25) WRIT PETITION NO.10213 OF 2025 Sunil Vitthal Phand & Ors.

AND (SR. NO.26) WRIT PETITION NO.10321 OF 2025 Vinayak Lahu Magdum & Ors.

The Union of India & Ors.

AND (SR. NO.28) INTERIM APPLICATION NO.20158 OF 2025 WRIT PETITION NO.5460 OF 2025 Santosh Tukaram Ambale & Ors.

.. Applicants The State of Maharashtra & Ors.

AND (SR. NO.29) WRIT PETITION (ST) NO.24468 OF 2025 Vikas Ramesh Shelar & Ors.

The State of Maharashtra & Ors.

AND (SR. NO.502) WRIT PETITION NO.9276 O 2025 Sanjay Dinkar Tembhe & Ors.

The State of Maharashtra & Ors.

AND (SR. NO.503) WRIT PETITION NO.10470 O 2025 Ajay Mahadeo Garate & Ors.

The State of Maharashtra & Ors.

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AND (SR. NO.27) INTERIM APPLICATION (ST) NO.20155 OF 2025 WRIT PETITION NO.5459 OF 2025 Chaya Sanjay Kokande & Ors.

The State of Maharashtra & Ors.

Mr. Suresh Pakale, Senior Advocate a/w Mr. Saurabh Pakale & Mr.Nilesh Desai for the petitioners in WP/5456/25, WP/6028/25, WP/8239/25, WP/8753/2025, WP/8754/2025, WP/9977/25, WP/10213/2025, WP/5459/2025, WP/5460/2025, WP (ST)/24468/2025. Mr. N.V. Bandiwadekar, Senior Advocate a/w Mr. Vinayak Kumbhar, Mr. Rajendra B.Khaire i/b Ms. Ashwini Bandiwadekar for the Petitioners in WP(ST)/15761/25 & WP(ST)/15782/25.

Mr. Niranjan Bhavake a/w Ms. Drishti Madhani, Ms. Swamini Thakur, Mr. Anurag Remekar i/b Bhavake & Associate Advocates for the petitioners in WP(ST)/16603/25.

Mr. Sunil Gosavi for the Applicant in IA(ST)/25647/25. Ms. Manisha Gawade, AGP for the Respondent-State in WPL/17362/2025. Mr. Ajit M. Savagave, for the Respondent Nos.5&6 in WP/6028/25. Mr. A.R.Kapadnis & Mr. Balaji Shinde for the Petitioner in WP(ST)/13145/25, WP/5759/25, WP(ST)/25236/25 & WP/10321/25. Mr. A.R. Kapadnis for the Respondent-ZP Pune in WP/5456/25, WP/8239/25, WP/8753/25, WP/8754/2025, WP/9977/2025, WP/10213/2025, IAST/20158/2025, WP/5460/2025, WPST/24468/2025.

Mr. P.P Kakade, Addl. G.P. a/w Mr. S.B. Kalel, AGP, Mr. D.A. Chandurkar, Addl. G.P., Smt. G.R. Raghuwanshi, AGP, Mr. B.V. Samant, Addl. G.P., Mr. V.G. Badgujar, AGP, Mr. A.I. Patel, Addl. G.P., Mr. Kushal Amin, 'B' Panel Advocate, Smt. N.M. Mehra, AGP, Smt. D.S. Deshmukh and for the Respondent-State in WP/5456/2025.

Mr. P.P Kakade, Addl. G.P. a/w Mr. S.B. Kalel, AGP, Mr. B.V. Samant, Addl. G.P., Mr. Sachit Bhogade, 'B' Panel Advocate, Mr. V.G. Badgujar, AGP, Mr. A.I. Patel, Addl. G.P., Mr. Kushal Amin, 'B' Panel Advocate, Smt. N.M. Mehra, AGP, for the Respondent-State in WP/8239/2025. Mr. Rui Rodrigues a/w Ms. Gargi Warunjikar and Mr. Sagar Ambedkar, for 5/7

the Respondent No.1-UOI in WP(ST)/16603/2025. Mr. Rui Rodrigues a/w Mr. Sagar Ambedkar, for Respondent No.1-UOI in CP/412/2025.

Ms. Priyanka Chavan, AGP for the Respondent-Solapur ZP in WP/5456/2025 (Sr. No.22).

Mr. Rui Rodrigues a/w Mr. Vinit Jain, for Respondent No.6-UOI in WP/8239/2025 and WP/8753/2025.

Mr. Shrishail Sakhare, for Respondent Nos.4 and 5 in IA(ST)/20155/2025 (Sr. No. 27) and for Respondent Nos.15 and 16 in WP/8753/2025 (Sr. No.23).

Mr. Sachit Bhogle, 'B' Panel Advocate, for the Respondent Nos.1 to 5-State in WP/9977/2025.

Mr. D.A. Chandukar, Addl. G.P. a/w Smt. G.R. Raghuwanshi, for Respondent Nos.2 and 3-State in WP/10321/2025. Mr. B.V. Samant, Addl. G.P. a/w Mr. V.G. Badgujar, AGP for Respondent Nos.1 to 3-State in IA(ST)/20155/2025.

Smt. D.S. Deshmukh, AGP for the Respondent-State in IA(ST)/20158/2025.

Mr. A.I. Patel, Addl. G.P. a/w Mr. K.S. Thorat, 'B' Panel Advocate, for the Respondent-State in WP(ST)/24468/2025.

Mr. Shrishail Sakhare, for Respondent No.3 in WP/9276/2025. Mr. A.K. Naik, AGP for Respondent Nos.1 to 4-State in WP/10470/2025. CORAM : SHREE CHANDRASHEKHAR & MANJUSHA DESHPANDE, JJ.

DATE : 28th JULY 2025.

P.C. :

Mr. Pakale, the learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioners in Writ Petition No.5456 of 2025, Writ Petition No.6028 of 2025, Writ Petition No.8239 of 2025, Writ Petition No.8753 of 2025, Writ Petition No.8754 of 2025, Writ Petition No.9977 of 2025, Writ Petition No.10213 of 2025, Writ Petition No.5460 of 2025 and Writ Petition (Stamp) No.24468 of 2025 referred to the provisions under section 25 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 and submitted that the Government Resolution dated 15th March 2024 has been issued in 6/7

the teeth of the mandatory provisions thereunder inasmuch as the number of student-teacher ratio has been drastically reduced. 2.

Mr. Pakale, the learned Senior Counsel for the petitioners has also drawn attention of this Court to the Government Resolution dated 18th June 2024 and National Education Policy, 2020 to lay support to these writ petitions.

A convenient compilation has been tendered in the Court which is taken on record. The copies shall be supplied to the learned counsels appearing for the respondents.

Let Writ Petition No.5456 of 2025 be tagged along with Writ Petition No.7552 of 2025, Writ Petition No.8946 of 2025, Writ Petition No.7548 of 2025, Writ Petition No.10432 of 2025, Writ Petition No.10433 of 2025 and Writ Petition (Lodging) No.17362 of 2025, to be placed on 29th July 2025 at 4:00 p.m.

Interim Application (Stamp) No.20155 of 2025 in Writ Petition No.5459 of 2025 (Sr. No.27) be detagged from the aforesaid group of writ petitions.

[ MANJUSHA DESHPANDE, J. ] [ SHREE CHANDRASHEKHAR, J. ] 7/7