High Court On Its Own Motion v. Smt. Meena Shendkar, The Education Officer (Primary) And Another (Deleted)

TRUPTI SADANAND BAMNE TRUPTI SADANAND BAMNE Date: 2025.07.03 19:39:40 +0530

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION SUO MOTO CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 6 OF 2025 IN CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 197 OF 2025 High Court On Its Own Motion ... Petitioner versus Smt.Meena Shendkar & Anr.

... Respondents ...

Mr.Utkarsh Desai for Respondent No.1.

Mr.V.M.Mali, AGP for the State.

...

CORAM

:

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

DATE :

2nd July, 2025 P.C.:- 1.

On 15th April, 2025, we had passed the following order : "1. We have perused the order dated 18th December, 2017 passed by this Court [Coram: B. R. Gavai (as his lordship then was) & B. P. Colabawalla, JJ.] in Writ Petition No.3197 of 2015. The Education Officer was directed to decide the issue within three weeks. The then Education Officer was Smt. Meena Shendkar.

2. The aforesaid Education Officer issued notice of hearing for the first time on 8th May, 2018. She is now working as Education Officer (Primary) in Zilla Parishad Kolhapur.

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3. We intend to issue suo moto contempt notice since we are finding that hundreds of our orders, are blatantly disobeyed by the Education Officers at various levels and only when the Contempt proceedings are initiated, that they file an affidavit to express great regard and respect for the High Court.

4. The learned Advocate for the Petitioner desires to add the said Education Officer Smt. Meena Shendkar, as a Respondent. Leave granted. Addition be carried out forthwith.

5. The learned Additional Government pleader submits on instructions that the Education Officer Secondary Zilla Parishad Thane, Ms. Lalita Dahitule has passed an order on 1st November, 2022.

6. The learned Advocate for the Petitioner then points out an order dated 27th September, 2018 passed by the then Education Officer (Secondary) Zilla Parishad Thane, Mr. Sheshrao Bade. He is presently posted as Palghar Scheme Education Officer. The learned Advocate for the Petitioner prays for leave to add him as a Respondent. Leave granted. Addition be carried out.

7. We are issuing suo moto contempt notice to the added Respondents, in the format prescribed under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, returnable on 7th May, 2025. Registry to register the proceedings accordingly."

2.

Today, Respondent No.1, in Suo Moto Contempt Petition, Smt. Meena Shendkar, is present in the Court Hall. A lengthy affidavit dated 2nd July, 2025 accompanied by several documents (12 pages), is tendered 2/5

which is taken on record and marked as 'X' for identification. Though in the first paragraph the concerned Respondent has tendered an unconditional apology, the contents of paragraph Nos. 2 and 3 of the said affidavit indicate statements in defense.

3.

We, therefore, thought it fit to post the matter on a particular date for framing of charges. However, the Respondent, who is present in Court, instructs the learned Advocate appearing on her behalf, pleads that she has tendered an apology and does not wish to contest the matter. Instead, she is willing to pay some amount as costs, to avoid these proceedings.

4.

She further submits that this is the first Contempt Petition she has ever faced in her career, and she assures the Court that henceforth, there will be no disobedience of any order passed by any Court. She further states that she has the highest regard and respect for the Court. If there is any act of contempt in the future, the Court may take strict action. She prays that an amount of Rs.10,000/- be permitted to be deposited by her from her salary account in this Court, towards costs, in support of her request for pardon.

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5.

In view of the above repeated requests, the apology tendered is accepted.

6.

After the cost amount is deposited, within 30 days from today, the Registry of this Court shall transfer the said amount to an orphanage, the details of which are as under :

Girija Welfare Association Account No.309006361574 Bank Name :RBL BANK Branch - Kharghar IFSC : RATN0000078 7.

Insofar as Respondent No. 2 is concerned, notice has not been served at the address mentioned in the array of Respondents. The learned AGP fairly informs the Court that Respondent No.2 in the Suo Moto Contempt Petition is presently posted at Zilla Parishad Palghar, Near Collector Officer, Sector 15, Boisar Road, Palghar - 401 404. 7.

In view of the above, issue notice to Respondent No.2, Mr.Sheshrao Bade, on the address mentioned above, in the format prescribed under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, returnable on 4th August, 2025.

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8.

Since Respondent No. 1, Smt. Meena Shendkar, has now been transferred to Kolhapur and no longer has the authority to implement the order of this Court dated 18th December, 2017, her name stands deleted from the Suo Moto Contempt Petition.

(M. M. SATHAYE, J.) (RAVINDRA V. GHUGE, J.) 5/5