Ishwar Bhila Pawar and Ors. v. the State of Maharashtra through Secretary and Ors.
Case brief
What is this about?
Keywords: Ekstar; one step promotional pay scale; tribal area; PESA; Zilla Parishad; Education Officer (Secondary); G.R. 06.08.2002; G.R. 29.02.2024; G.R./clarification 14.08.2008; salary arrears; Hiralal Jagannath Bawa W.P. 8824/2021 (Principal Bench, 21.12.2021); W.P. 13842/2025; statutory remedy. Batch of writ petitions of 2026 (lead: W.P. No. 248/2026; 38 captions legible) before Bombay HC Aurangabad allowed with directions to scrutinize deployment per the latest G.R. 29.02.2024, pay one-step promotional payscale with arrears to verified-eligible employees in Tribal/PESA areas, hear purportedly ineligible petitioners within 120 days before any adverse order, and preserve statutory remedies.
What did the court decide?
Writ petitions allowed: (i) Respondent/Education Officer (Secondary), Zilla Parishad to scrutinize petitioners' records and deployment places within 30 days per G.R. dated 29.02.2024; (ii) cases without legal impediment to be cleared and one-step payscale salary benefits (Tribal/PESA areas) paid with arrears and current salary within a further 30 days; (iii) if found ineligible, notice and opportunity to appear and address the authority; (iv) hearing to be completed within 120 days followed by an appropriate order granting benefits to eligible candidates; (v) petitioners receiving adverse orders free to pursue statutory remedies in light of G.R. dated 29.02.2024 (General Administration Department).