Partly allowed

Siddheshwar Khandu Dhasade and Ors. v. the State of Maharashtra through the Secretary and Ors.

Bombay HC9 Dec 2024WP/17985/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Bombay High Court set aside recovery of alleged excess pay from pensionary benefits of teachers because undertakings were signed at superannuation under duress rather than when pay scales were first revised, holding the Jagdev Singh principle inapplicable.

What did the court decide?

Impugned orders quashed; amounts due to petitioners/heirs directed to be paid within 90 days, with 5% p.a. interest if delayed.

Siddheshwar Khandu Dhasade and Ors. vs the… — Pension and Retirement Benefits | Bombay HC (2024)

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Digitally signed by GAURI AMIT GAURI GAEKWAD AMIT Date: GAEKWAD 2024.12.13 10:13:16 +0530

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42.WP-17985-2024.odt

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

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WRIT PETITION NO.17985 OF 2024

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Siddheshwar Khandu Dhasade and Ors. ….Petitioners

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Versus

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The State of Maharashtra and Ors. ....Respondents

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Mr. Satish S. Raut i/b. Mr. Shashank Mangle for the Petitioners. Mr. S.H. Kankal for Respondent Nos.1 and 2. Mr. Anand Kulkarni for Respondent Nos.3 and 4.

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CORAM : RAVINDRA V. GHUGE & ASHWIN D. BHOBE, JJ. DATE : 9^th DECEMBER, 2024

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ORAL FINAL ORDER (Per Ravindra V. Ghuge, J.) :-

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All the Petitioners are identically placed. The learned Advocate representing the Respondent Zilla Parishad, Solapur agrees.

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The Petitioners are employees who were working with

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the Respondent Zilla Parishad and have superannuated from employment. All of them were subjected to recovery of amounts, purportedly for the reason that excess amounts were paid to them, under wrongful revised pay scales/erroneous revised pay scales, calculated on the basis of acquiring the certificate of MS-CIT etc.

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These pay scales were revised more than a decade ago.

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The grievance of these Petitioners is that recoveries have been initiated against them, from their retiral benefits/ pensionary benefits. In some cases, amounts have already been recovered. A chart showing the details of the petitioners, their dates of superannuation, dates of impugned orders and amounts recovered

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from their retiral benefits/pensionary benefits, are as under :

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Sr. No.	Retired Teaches Name	Amount of Computer Recovery	Retired Date	Z.P school	Date of Impugned Order
1	Siddheshwar Khandu Dhasade	50867	31/03/2023	Mundhewadi, Tal.Mangal wedha	13/04/2023
2	Parshuram Tukaram Gore	190198	13/04/2022	Wangi No.1, Tal.Karmala	29/08/2022
3	Ramesh Ijappa Gaikwad	48696	31/05/2021	Yatnal, Tal.South Solapur	24/06/2021
4	Kunda Rajesh Rajguru	51246	31/03/2024	Kumbhari, Tal. Dakshin Solapur	20/03/2024
5	Jayashri Malhari Kokare	475079	31/05/2024	Yatnal, Tal.South Solapur	14/10/2024
6	Sitaram Amarsing Shital	61473	31/01/2020	Nandani, Tal.South Solapur	26/02/2020
7	Kalpana Kishor	48693	31/05/2020	Kavathe,	10/11/2020

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	Lalbondre			Tal.North Solapur
8	Pandit Vitthal Landage	74281	31/05/2022	Savaleshwa, Tal.Mohol	08/06/2022
9	Prabhavati Chidanand Andewadi	54284	30/06/2020	Pathri, Tal.North Solapur	23/11/2020
10	Vishwanath Kondiba Palave	41673	31/05/2021	Alage, Tal.Akkalkot	16/11/2021
11	Ambanna Bhimsha Ishwarkatti	49470	31/05/2022	Aherwadi, Tal.South Solapur	08/07/2022
12	Pratbha Prakash Kulkarni	54216	01/05/2022	Tirhe, Tal.North Solapur	06/06/2022
13	Shabera Rafikahmad Kazi	48696	31/05/2021	Degaon, Tal.North Solapur	23/09/2021
14	Mohammadsalee m Ayyub Achakal	179716	31/07/2023	Karmba Urdu, Tal.North Solapur	06/11/2023
15	Chaya Abhimanyu Adamane	48214	30/06/2020	Tikekarwadi, Tal.North Solapur	09/11/2020
16	Sharnappa Prabhu Koli	55958	31/05/2023	Ingalgi, Tal.South Solapur	08/07/2023
17	Dashrath Sharanappa Bhatgunaki	337288	31/05/2023	Tadwal Kannad, Tal.Akkalkot	12/07/2023
18	Vishnu Channappa Dhotre	61476	31/05/2024	Brhampuri Tal.Mangal wedha	03/06/2024
19	Shantappa Nirvani Arekari	55183	31/05/2019	Mundhewadi Tal.Akkalkot	06/06/2019
20	Umesh Bhimashankar Konjari	53304	31/05/2023	Barur, Tal.South Solapur	06/02/2024

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21	Abdulkadar Saifanmuluk Karajagi	51382	31/05/2024	Mandrup Urdu, Tal.South Solapur	19/01/2024
22	Banaji Dhondiba Bolkote	44119	31/05/2021	Deshmukh Borgaon, Tal.Akkalkot	10/08/2023
23	Shashikant Ratan Kande	46121	31/05/2023	^Pandhrewasti Devgaon, Tal.Barshi	28/08/2023
24	Balasaheb Shankar Karande	40186	31/05/2024	Mohol no.4, Tal.Mohol	16/06/2024
25	Ramesh Rama Chavan	53971	31/05/2023	Gormale, Tal.Barshi	27/09/2023
26	Bhimashankar Apparao Mhetri	59006	31/05/2024	Wangi, Tal.South Solapur	21/06/2023
27	Pandurang Damodar Kulkarni	45188	31/07/2023	Arali, Tal. Mangalwedha	06/10/2023
28	Ishwar Dhondiram Bhosale	55535	31/05/2023	Pathkhal, Tal. Mangalwedha	13/07/2023
29	Neharu Hanmant Pawar	323413	31/05/2023	Arali, Tal. Mangalwedha	10/10/2023
30	Rajendr Gurubala Ligade	44319	31/05/2022	Nandur, Tal. Mangalwedha	13/07/2022
31	Sambhaji Ananda Pawar	43445	31/05/2023	Mundhewadi, Tal. Mangalwedha	01/09/2023
32	Sidram Annarao Patil	46372	31/05/2021	Brhampuri Tal. Mangalwedha	13/08/2021
33	Malhari Vasant Mohite	49960	31/05/2022	Siddhapur, Tal. Mangalwedha	20/05/2022
34	Pandit Iranna Kore	71292	31/05/2023	Hivargaon, Tal.	10/08/2023

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				Mangalwedha
35	Mohan Sopan Lendave	74971	31/05/2023	Shelewadi Tal. Mangalwedha	25/09/2023
36	Alka Haripant Honmane	48603	31/05/2023	Ganeshwadi, Tal. Mangalwedha	05/01/2024
37	Mahadev Shivappa Bagale	57176	31/05/2019	Sadepur, Tal.South Solapur	06/06/2019
38	Khatunbi Badshaha Atar	214231	31/05/2022	Sapatne, (Bho.), Tal.Madha	14/03/2024
39	Mangal Vilas Dhotre	48044	31/12/2020	Pathkhal, Tal. Mangalwedha	05/02/2021
40	Shahabuddin Khatibsaheb Mulani	70141	31/05/2023	Andhalgaon, Tal. Mangalwedha	06/09/2023
41	Sambhaji Bajirao Kalunge	57972	31/12/2020	Morewadi, Tal. Mangalwedha	04/01/2021
42	Basavanappa Sidhappa Jirage	48232	31/05/2023	Kavathe Tal. North Solapur	31/05/2023
43	Pratibha Sanjay Narkar	50406	30/09/2020	Bale, Tal. North Solapur	16/12/2020
44	Sharnappa Shivappa Loni	67978	31/05/2021	Soregaon, Tal. North Solapur	21/09/2021
45	Nabilal Daud Nadaf	57064	31/05/2023	Dongaon , Tal. North Solapur	31/05/2023
46	Sileman Mahatab Mulla	46314	31/05/2024	Mugali, Tal.Akkalkot	30/05/2024
47	Sidharudh Bhimsha Mundinkeri	67627	31/05/2024	Antroli, Tal.South Solapur	18/06/2024
48	Chaya Rajendr	48696	31/12/2020	Lokmanyan	05/02/2021

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	Birajdar			agar,Tal. North Solapur
49	Bharath Baburao Dhasade	48576	31/01/2024	Kegaon, Tal.North Solapur	06/02/2024
50	Mangal Vaman Gavali	51653	31/05/2019	Kondi, Tal.North Solapur	24/09/2019
51	Rajani Sakharam Bhat	34070	30/11/2018	Gulwanchi Tal. North Solapur	02/02/2019
52	Surekha Balasaheb Bandgar	48696	30/05/2020	Dongaon, Tal. North Solapur	19/11/2020
53	Sunita Vilas Sant	48696	31/05/2021	Wadakbal, Tal. South Solapur	23/09/2021
54	Dada Jagannath Mohite	47881	31/05/2023	Kettur No.2, Tal.Karmala	06/02/2024
55	Dattatrey Janardan Khatmode	48361	31/01/2022	Veet, Tal. Karmala	05/07/2022
56	Kishor Shankar Malgonde	48696	31/05/2020	Bakshihipp arge, Tal.South Solapur	21/10/2020
57	Vijayalaxmi Alhad Futane	35850	28/02/2018	Vidigharkul Muli B, Tal. South Solapur	15/03/2018
58	Sharayu Ganesh Kulkarni	93703	01/05/2020	Anand Nagar, Tal. North Solapur	19/11/2020
59	Seema Purushottam Nagarkar	97466	30/06/2020	Lokmanya nagar, Tal.North Solapur	26/11/2020

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60	Anuradha Arvind Kekade	47276	31/08/2020	Mandrup Mule, Tal. South Solapur	18/12/2020
61	Kushaba Mangala Wale	57367	29/02/2024	Punvar, Tal.Karmala	14/06/2024
62	Mangal Jaydev Aware	46970	31/05/2023	Chandan Nagar, Lambboti, Tal. Mohol	11/09/2023
63	Shrishail Irantayya Mathpati	48796	30/09/2022	Musti, Tal. South Solapur	31/03/2023
64	Revappa Sidhanna Birajdar	220028	31/05/2022	Salgar (Bu.) Tal. Mangalwedha	11/01/2023
65	Mehboobbi A.Rajak Dandoti	46447	31/05/2024	Maindargi Urdu, Tal.Akkalkot	29/05/2024
66	Hanmant Apparaya Patil	45188	31/05/2023	Nandur, Tal. Mangalwedha	31/05/2023
67	Prakash Maharudra Madbhavi	324705	31/05/2023	Rajur, Tal. Solapur	22/09/2023
68	Ramchandra Pandharinath Nikambe	217078	31/05/2022	Kumbhari, Tal. Solapur	05/07/2022
69	Shrishal Nagnath Agase	56012	31/05/2022	Dhotri, Tal. Solapur	23/05/2022
70	Pradeep Madhukar Vibhute	51256	31/05/2019	Tamboli (Wasti), Tal. Mohol	15/06/2019
71	Sandipan Sidram Narute	21680	31/05/2018	Waghmode (Wasti), Tal. Mohol	18/08/2018
72	Sunita Narayan kamble	33000	30/09/2022	Kumbhari, Tal. Solapur	12/07/2022

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73	Ibrahim Ansarasab Bagwan	50342	31/05/2022	Vedhi Gharkul, Tal. Solapur	08/06/2022
74	Salim Dastagir Atar	46044	30/06/2024	Pangari, Tal. Barshi	22/07/2024
75	Mahumud Mahibub atar	50324	31/05/2021	Kanhergaon. Tal. Madha	28/05/2021
76	Alka Maruti Potbhare	72792	30/04/2023	Kumbhari (Girl), Tal. Solapur	16/05/2023

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We have considered the strenuous submissions of the learned Advocates. It is, however, undisputed that none of these Petitioners had played any fraud or were personally involved in wrongful revision of their pay scales or orchestrating wrongful revision by manipulating the record. There is no allegation of fraud or deceit against any of them. No undertaking was acquired from them as and when the revised pay scale become payable. In some cases, at the stroke of retirement, a condition was imposed that they should execute an undertaking and in these coercive circumstances, that undertaking were extracted from some of them.

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The learned Advocate representing the Zilla Parishad as well as the learned AGP, submit that once an undertaking is executed, the case of the Petitioners would be covered by the law

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laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in High Court of Punjab and Haryana and others vs. Jagdev Singh, 2016 AIR (SCW) 3523 . Reliance is placed on the judgment delivered by this Court on 1^st September, 2021, in Writ Petition No. 13262 of 2018 filed by Ananda Vikram Baviskar Vs. State of Maharashtra and others.

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We have referred to the law laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in High Court of Punjab and Haryana and others vs. Jagdev Singh (supra) . However, the record reveals that no undertaking was taken from these Petitioners when the pay scales were revised. The undertakings from some of them were taken at the stroke of their retirement.

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An undertaking has to be taken from the candidate on the day the revised pay scale is made applicable to him and the payment commences. At the stroke of superannuation of the said employee, asking him to tender an undertaking, practically amounts to an afterthought on the part of the employer and a mode of compelling the candidate to execute an undertaking since they are apprehensive that their retiral benefits would not be released until such undertaking is executed. Such an undertaking will not have the

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same sanctity of an undertaking executed when the payment of revised pay scale had commenced. We, therefore, respectfully conclude that the view taken in High Court of Punjab and Haryana and others vs. Jagdev Singh (supra) , would not be applicable to the case of these Petitioners, more so since the recovery is initiated after their superannuation.

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Taking into account that these Petitioners were not involved in any mischief, fraud or deceit in orchestrating their wrongful pay revision, the law laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Syed Abdul Qadir vs. State of Bihar and others, 2009 (3) SCC 475 and State of Punjab and other vs. Rafiq Masih (White Washer) etc. (2015) 4 SCC 334 = AIR 2015 SC 696 , would apply to this case.

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The Writ Petition is partly allowed . The impugned orders are quashed and set aside. The amounts due and payable to the Petitioners, as well as to the widows and other legal heirs, if that is the case, after the superannuation of the said employees/death of the employees, would be paid to these Petitioners or their widows or other legal heirs, if that is the case, within a period of 90 days.

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The learned Advocate for the Petitioners submits, on instructions, that the Petitioners would not claim any interest on the amount which has already been recovered from them, to the extent of it’s repayment. In view thereof, if the amounts are not paid within 90 days, interest at the rate of Rs.5% p.a. from the date of this order, will be paid.

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(ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.)

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(RAVINDRA V. GHUGE, J.)

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Siddheshwar Khandu Dhasade and Ors. v. the State of Maharashtra through the Secretary and Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Siddheshwar Khandu Dhasade and Ors. v. the State of Maharashtra through the Secretary and Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

A compact analysis

Issues for consideration

Cases cited

Statutes considered

Parties & counsel

Coram

Case details

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