Nagpur High Court Directs Maharashtra Government to Release Salaries of 600+ Teachers in Shalarth ID Controversy
The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court issued a significant directive on Tuesday, ordering the Maharashtra state government to immediately release the pending salaries of more than 600 teachers and non-teaching staff embroiled in the Shalarth ID controversy. The court firmly held that wages cannot be withheld without following due process or providing prior notice to affected employees.
Court Criticizes Government's Procedural Lapses
Hearing a batch of petitions filed by aggrieved educators, a division bench comprising Justices Mukulika Jawalkar and Nandesh Deshpande delivered a pointed observation. The bench stated clearly: "The state may question the legality of appointments, but salaries cannot be stopped without issuing notice and without following due procedure, particularly when no criminal cases have been registered against the petitioners."
The court partially allowed the petitions, providing immediate financial relief to the affected staff while permitting the state government to continue its ongoing inquiry into the matter. Legal representation saw counsels Anand Parchure, Ram Parsodkar, and Kalpana Pathak advocating for the petitioners, while Sangita Jachak appeared on behalf of the state government.
Background of the Shalarth ID Controversy
The complex issue traces its origins back to February 2025, when allegations surfaced regarding potentially bogus Shalarth IDs. This discovery prompted the Maharashtra government to initiate a comprehensive probe into appointments made during that specific period. Subsequently, the state halted salary payments to the concerned teachers starting from March 2025, which triggered widespread litigation before the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court.
In its official affidavit submitted through the deputy director of education, the state government presented its defense. The government argued that several appointments were not conducted according to statutory norms and that the Shalarth IDs generated based on these appointments were therefore invalid. The state maintained the position that "no right to government salary arises from illegal appointments" and emphasized its fundamental duty to safeguard public funds from potential misuse.
Court Emphasizes Principles of Natural Justice
The High Court bench, however, identified significant procedural shortcomings in the government's actions. The judges pointed out that affected employees were neither issued formal notices nor given any opportunity to present their side or respond before their salaries were abruptly stopped. The court stressed that all administrative decisions must strictly adhere to the established principles of natural justice, which include the right to be heard and proper notice.
Balancing the competing claims of employee welfare and government accountability, the bench issued a nuanced order. The court directed that all salaries withheld since March 2025 must be disbursed to the affected teachers and staff immediately. Simultaneously, the bench allowed the state government to continue its verification process of documents and recruitment procedures related to the Shalarth ID appointments.
Recovery Mechanism for Future Findings
The court further established an important safeguard, ruling that if any individual is later found guilty of wrongdoing through the government's investigation, "the amount paid can be recovered from the concerned school management and responsible education department officials." This provision creates a mechanism for potential future recovery of funds while ensuring current employees receive their due compensation.
The bench also noted that several similar petitions concerning the Shalarth ID controversy remain pending before the court and are expected to be decided in the near future. This ruling sets an important precedent for how government agencies must handle salary disputes involving allegations of procedural irregularities in public sector appointments.
