Sujita Narayan Chopade and Ors. v. the State of Maharashtra Thr. Secretary and Others

Bombay HC24 Sept 2025WP/11296/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Couple Transfer Policy flouted; transfer beyond 30 kms; interim relief — Petitioners not to be relieved, continuation at pre-transfer postings; Respondent-Z.P. to consider representations; reliance sought on Dipak Rajaram Dhumal, W.P. (St.) No. 29518 of 2025 (Principal Seat, 2 September 2025); Bombay High Court Kolhapur Circuit Bench; Karnik & Deshmukh JJ.; order dated 18 September 2025; next date 24 September 2025; taken on board by mentioning.

What did the court decide?

Interim protection only (petitions pending): Petitioners not to be relieved till the next date and permitted to continue working at their place of postings prior to the transfer Order; Respondent-Z.P. free to consider the Petitioners' representations; matter listed on 24th September 2025. ¶¶29

Sujita Narayan Chopade and Ors. vs the State of Maharashtra Thr. Secretary and Others — Bombay HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the Respondents have flouted the Couple Transfer Policy by transferring the Petitioners to places much more than 30 kms away (counsel submits the point is covered by the Principal Seat decision dated 2 September 2025 in Writ Petition (St.) No. 29518 of 2025).

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Court's answer

Interim direction: until the next date of listing (24th September 2025), the Petitioners are not to be relieved and may be permitted to work at their place of postings prior to the transfer Order.

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Ratio / Principle

In the meantime, it is open to the Respondent-Z.P. to consider the representations made by the Petitioners; the matter is to be listed on 24th September 2025. No decision on the merits of the Couple Transfer Policy grievance was made in this order.

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Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Bombay High Court (Circuit Bench at Kolhapur), Civil Appellate Jurisdiction — four writ petitions (Nos. 11220, 11295, 11296 and 11297 of 2025) by employees against the State of Maharashtra & Ors. challenging transfer orders said to flout the Couple Transfer Policy, the Petitioners having been transferred to places much more than 30 kms away. Counsel for the Petitioners relied on the decision dated 2nd September 2025 of the Principal Seat in Dipak Rajaram Dhumal & Ors. v. The State of Maharashtra & Ors., Writ Petition (St.) No. 29518 of 2025, as squarely covering the issue. By interim order dated 18th September 2025 (M. S. Karnik & Sharmila U. Deshmukh, JJ.), passed on mention though not on board: (i) the Petitioners are not to be relieved till the next date and may work at their pre-transfer postings; (ii) it is open to the Respondent-Z.P. to consider the Petitioners' representations; (iii) matter listed on 24th September 2025. Merits not adjudicated in this order.

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503-WP-11220-2025.doc

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR

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CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

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WRIT PETITION NO. 11220 OF 2025

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Dhiraj Jagu Humbe … Petitioner Versus The State of Maharashtra & Ors. … Respondents

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WITH

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WRIT PETITION NO. 11295 OF 2025

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Sushma Rajaram Kothawale & Ors. … Petitioners Versus The State of Maharashtra & Ors. … Respondents

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WITH

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WRIT PETITION NO. 11296 OF 2025

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Sujita Narayan Chopade & Ors. … Petitioners Versus The State of Maharashtra & Ors. … Respondents

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WITH

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WRIT PETITION NO. 11297 OF 2025

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Sonali Madhukar Dhuture … Petitioner Versus The State of Maharashtra & Ors. … Respondents

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1 of 3

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503-WP-11220-2025.doc

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Mr. Abhay Jadhavar a/w. Mr. Kiran Mulik i/b. Mr. Balaji Shinde for the Petitioners.

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Mr. V. M. Mali, A.G.P. for the Respondent-State. Mr. Ashok Misal (Through V.C.) for Respondent -Z.P..

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——————

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Coram : M. S. Karnik & Sharmila U. Deshmukh, JJ.

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Date : 18^th September 2025.

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P. C. :

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1. Not on board. Upon mentioning, taken on board.

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2. Learned counsel for the Petitioners submits that the Couple

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Transfer Policy is being flouted by the Respondents. So far as the Petitioners are concerned, the Petitioners are transferred at the places where the distance is much more than 30 kms.

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3. Learned counsel for the Petitioners submits that the issue is squarely covered by the decision dated 2^nd September 2025 of this Court (Principal Seat) in Dipak Rajaram Dhumal & Ors. Vs. The State of Maharashtra & Ors. in Writ Petition (St.) No. 29518 of 2025.

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4. Learned counsel for the Respondent-Z.P. seeks time to take instructions.

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5. The Petitioners not to be relieved till the next date and may be permitted to work in their place of postings prior to the transfer Order.

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2 of 3

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503-WP-11220-2025.doc

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6. List on 24^th September 2025.