Bansilal S/O Govind Sarukte and Ors. v. the State of Maharashtra Thr. Its Secretary Tribal Development Department and Ors.
One Step Pay Scale ('Eksthar') – Tribal/PESA area employees – Government Resolutions dated 6th August 2002 & 29th February 2024 – benefits earlier extended, then withdrawn with recovery ordered
Case brief
What is this about?
Batch disposal by the Bombay High Court (Ravindra V. Ghuge & Ashwin D. Bhobe, JJ.; order dated 15-09-2025, corrected per Speaking-to-Minutes order dated 10-10-2025) of 39 writ petitions (WP 11907, 11909-11918, 11920-11925, 11927-11929, 11931, 11933, 11935, 11939, 11941, 11942, 11944, 11959, 11962, 11965, 11973-11976, 11998, 12006-12009 of 2025) by teachers/employees of the State of Maharashtra seeking One Step Pay Scale 'Eksthar' under Government Resolutions dated 6th August 2002 & 29th February 2024 for service in difficult/Tribal/PESA areas, whose benefits had been withdrawn with recovery ordered. Court referred to Santosh S/o. Shankar Gujar (WP 8917/2025) and Gokul S/o. Vitthal Aher (WP (Stamp) 21969, 21307, 21924 & 22099/2025) but did not extend parity; instead directed representation-based verification by Zilla Parishad Education Officers and assessment by the Divisional Deputy Director of Education within 120 days, abeyance of recoveries, refund/arrears within 60 days with 5% p.a. default interest, reasoned orders for ineligibles, and accountability of the Principal Secretary (Education) for missed timelines.