In a stern move, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court issued an arrest warrant against the Principal Secretary of the Maharashtra Government’s Education Department, on Wednesday, in response to the department’s non-compliance with court orders regarding the payment of salaries to skilled teachers. The case, brought forth by petitioner Chitra Meher, representing 124 aggrieved teachers, revolves around skilled educators who were appointed on a regular pay scale by the State Government to teach physically handicapped children. Over time, the teachers were not remunerated according to Government pay scale norms, said Adv Anand Parchure, counsel of the petitioner.

 

These teachers approached the Aurangabad High Court for justice after they were terminated from their positions in 2012. Subsequently, they were reinstated, but their salaries were once again withheld by the Government. Even after a High Court order in 2022, the Education Department failed to comply with the court’s mandate to release the teachers’ overdue salaries, said Adv Parchure. Advocate Parchure, pointed out that the education department had continuously delayed complying with the court’s orders. In the latest development, the High Court ordered the education department to deposit the teachers’ salaries by October 31. Failure to do so would require the Chief Secretary to appear before the court on November 1. However, none of the officials were present during the hearing on Wednesday. In response to this non-compliance, Justices Prithviraj Chavan and Urmila Joshi Phalke issued an arrest warrant against the Principal Secretary of the Education Department. The next hearing on the matter is scheduled for November 6.