Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra government to release pending salaries of over 600 teachers and non-teaching staff linked to the Shalarth ID controversy, while strongly criticising the state for procedural lapses.
The court observed that salaries cannot be withheld without issuing notices or following due legal process, especially when no criminal cases have been registered against the affected employees.
Hearing a batch of petitions, the bench noted that even if the government has concerns about the legality of appointments, it must adhere to principles of natural justice before taking action such as stopping wages.
Background of the Case
The dispute stems from a 2025 probe into alleged irregularities in Shalarth IDs, a system used for salary disbursement in government-aided schools. Following the probe, salaries of hundreds of teachers were stopped from March 2025, triggering multiple legal challenges.
The state had argued that several appointments were not made as per norms and therefore did not warrant salary payments. However, the court found fault with the lack of prior notice and due procedure before halting salaries.
Court’s Direction
The High Court ordered the immediate release of pending salaries, while allowing the government to continue its investigation into the alleged irregularities.
It also clarified that if any wrongdoing is established later, the government can recover the paid amount from the concerned school management or responsible officials.
Key Takeaway
The ruling reinforces that administrative actions must follow legal due process, even in cases involving suspected irregularities, ensuring that employees are not deprived of their rightful salaries without proper justification.
