The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has asked the Maharashtra government to clarify whether it is paying salaries to staff in aided junior colleges that have no student admissions. A division bench comprising Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Vrushali Joshi issued notices to the Secretary of the State Education Department, the Director of Education, and the Deputy Directors of Education for Nagpur and Amravati divisions.
The court has directed them to file a response by August 14. Taking suo motu cognisance of a media report, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has initiated a public interest litigation (PIL) over the issue of aided junior colleges in Maharashtra receiving staff salaries despite having no student enrolment.
The report highlighted that around 300 such colleges continue to draw crores of rupees in salary payments every month.
Terming the matter serious, the bench observed that releasing salaries to staff in institutions with zero admissions amounts to misuse of public funds and indicates grave administrative negligence in the education department. The court further noted that existing provisions under the Maharashtra Employees of Private Schools (MEPS) Regulation Act, the Secondary School Code, and the Right to Education Act give the state government the authority to take appropriate action against educational institutions that fail to meet the minimum student enrollment criteria.
The bench observed that the government is well within its rights to act under these legal frameworks. Advocate Rahul Ghughe appeared as amicus curiae to assist the court in the matter.
👉 Click here to read the latest Gujarat news on TheLiveAhmedabad.com