32-wp-1972-2025.odt IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO.1972 OF 2025 Mubarak Abdul Mulla and Ors. …..Petitioner versus The State of Maharashtra and Ors. ….Respondents Mr. Satish S. Raut a/w Mr. Tanmay M. Shembavanekar, a/w Mr. Shravan H. Sul for the Petitioners. Mr. Anand Kulkarni for the Respondent Nos. 3 and 4. Mr. K. S. Thorat, ‘B’ Panel advocate for the State. CORAM : RAVINDRA V. GHUGE & ASHWIN D. BHOBE, JJ. DATE : 12th FEBRUARY, 2025 ORAL FINAL ORDER (Per Ravindra V. Ghuge, J) 1. All the Petitioners are identically placed. The learned Advocate representing the Respondent Zilla Parishad, Solapur agrees. 2. The Petitioners are employees who were working with the Respondent Zilla Parishad and have superannuated from employment. All of them were subjected to recovery of amounts, Nikita 1 of 8 NIKITA KAILAS DARADE Digitally signed by NIKITA KAILAS DARADE Date: 2025.02.20 11:40:15 +0530 32-wp-1972-2025.odt 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. These pay scales were revised more than a decade ago. 3. 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 from their retiral benefits/pensionary benefits, are as under : Sr. No. Retired Teacher’s Name Age MS-CIT Amt. Recovery Excess Payment Recovery Retired Date Z.P. School Date Of Impug ned Order Permane nt Address 1. Mubarak Abdul Mulla 60 48,696 - 31/05/20 22 Hotgi Statio n, South Solap ur 26/08 /2022 21, Guruna th Nagar, Solapur . 2. Saeeda Bagam Mahammad Salim 62 57,650 - 31/05/20 21 - 01/06 /2021 722 Jangi Plot Near tahashi l Akkalk ot 3. Shivbala Kashinath Goli 63 73,815 - 31/05/20 19 Takal i, South Solap ur 18/06 /2019 Dhulkh ed, Tal- Chadch an 4. Choudappa Chanvirapp a Bukka 62 40,795 - 31/05/20 20 Takal i, South 29/07 /2020 Tanish ka Nagar, Nikita 2 of 8 32-wp-1972-2025.odt Solap ur Kumbh ari 5. Sidram Pandu Naik 61 96,298 - 31/05/20 21 Takal i, South Solap ur 22/07 /2021 Alur Laman Tanda, Bijapur 6. Naseem Altaf Tadpatri 61 66,912 - 30/07/20 21 Vidi Ghar kul B Urdu Kumb hari 10/11 /2021 425, Sakhar Peth, Solapur 7. Nagraj Chndram Kanaki 60 52,678 - 30/04/20 22 Takal i, South Solap ur 02/08 /2022 Daji Peth, Solapur 8. Chandraka nt Basavanap pa Yamaji 61 41,281 - 31/05/20 21 Wagd ari, Akkal kot 13/10 /2021 Wagda ri, Tal- Akkalk ot 9. Sham Bapurao Adhatrao 61 53,816 - 31/10/20 21 Tilleh al, South Solap ur 12/06 /2021 Rukmin i Nagar, Solapur 10. BashirAhm ed Gulabsaheb Tamboli 58 50,585 - 31/08/20 24 Ule, South Solap ur 14/10 /2024 Sakhar Peth, Solapur . 11. Nabilal Mahiboob Shaikh 60 55,133 - 31/05/20 22 Hipal e, South Solap ur 13/07 /2022 Tejas Nagar, Solapur . 12. Rashid Khudbuddi n Sayyad 60 49,396 - 30/04/20 22 Hotgi , South Solap ur 06/04 /2022 Ambed kar Nagar, Solapur 13. Rajak Badashaha Nadaf 64 42,630 - 31/07/20 18 K.P. Hattu r, South Solap ur 01/09 /2018 Jay Bajran g Nagar, Solapur . 14. Asmat Rajak Nadaf 61 50,396 - 28/02/20 21 Gava dewa di, South Solap ur 17/06 /2021 Jay Bajran g Nagar, Solapur . 15. Sujata Bharatkum ar Mhetre 61 41,301 - 31/03/20 21 K.P.H otgi, South Solap ur 19/04 /2022 Dwarka Nagari, Vijapur Road. 16. Malsidh Shivgonda Vhanmane 64 31,686 - 31/07/20 18 K.P. Kand algao n, South Solap ur 15/10 /2018 Kusur, South Solapur 17. Shamal Vitthal 62 69,448 - 31/05/20 20 K.P.U le, 24/12 /2021 Nannaj , Nikita 3 of 8 32-wp-1972-2025.odt Jadhav South Solap ur North Solapur 18. Gangadhar Baburao Kambale 60 47,926 - 31/05/20 22 Boreg aon, Akkal kot 04/07 /2022 Chapal gon, Akkalk ot 19. Kondabai Gangadhar Kamble 61 38,848 - 31/12/20 20 Chap algao n, Akkal kot 22/01 /2021 Chapal gon, Akkalk ot 20. Rashid Yasin Pathan 59 23,564 - 30/09/20 20 Gunje gaon, South Solap ur 15/07 /2021 Swami Viveka nand Nagar, Solapur . 21. Ambaji Mailari Katke 59 40,177 - 31/08/20 24 Ingal gi, South Solap ur 10/10 /2024 Green City, Solapur . 22. Balasaheb Gangadhar Bobalade 61 45,188 1,24,979 31/05/20 21 Devle 26/08 /2021 Laxmid hahiva di 23. Ganpati Vithoba Raut 64 30,385 2,702 31/05/20 18 Chan doliw adi 10/08 /2018 Aalega on 24. Gorakh Baba Sargar 59 88,991 - 31/05/20 24 Band agar wadi (katfa l) 05/06 /2024 Loteva di 25. Ankush Vithoba Borade 59 62,737 - 29/02/20 24 Hanm antga on 20/03 /2024 Lonvire 26. Ankush Shripati Burange 60 2,76,80 3 - 31/05/20 23 Metk arwa di (Gher adi) 07/09 /2023 Jawala 27. Uddhav Tukaram Kedar 64 22,855 1,288 31/05/20 18 Kole 02/09 /2018 Vasud 28. Surekha Bandopant Joshi 64 27,710 22,556 01/05/20 18 Mahu d 07/09 /2018 Mahud 29. Chhaya Vishnu Aldar 59 43,551 - 31/05/20 24 Kolek arwa di 06/06 /2024 Kole 30. Sadashiv Dhondiba Pawar 64 21,430 - 30/04/20 18 Pache gaon (Khur d) 29/05 /2018 Vatamb re 31. Arun Maruti Tele 64 22,855 - 31/05/20 18 Dhay ati 20/07 /2018 Medsin gi 32. Sunanda Annu Swami 59 25,536 - 31/05/20 24 Javala No.1 29/05 /2024 Javala 33. Vilas Sudhakar Ingawale 65 72,904 - 10/05/20 17 Wagh amod e vadi 25/10 /2017 Medsin gi 34. Shabira Hasuddin Mujawar 63 57,823 1,232 31/05/20 19 Bamn i 18/07 /2019 Sangol a Nikita 4 of 8 32-wp-1972-2025.odt 35. Shivaji Namdev Ingole 64 22,855 - 31/05/20 18 Ekhat pur 10/07 /2018 Ekhatp ur 36. Balasaheb Ramchandr a Kamble 60 33,396 - 31/12/20 22 Vadh egaon 02/01 /2023 Save 37. Gorakh Namdev Ingole 61 45,643 - 31/05/20 21 More vadi (ekha tpur) 08/03 /2021 Ekhatp ur 38. Chhaya Maruti Khandagale 63 50,221 - 31/05/20 19 Wagh amod e vadi 08/08 /2019 Sangol a 39. Balbhim Baba Aiwale 60 65,920 2,67,562 31/05/20 22 Bach eri Tal- Mals hiras 18/07 /2023 Mahim 40. Mohandas Dagadu Rasal 60 1,26,00 4 - 30/06/20 23 Akluj (Muli No.2) 25/09 /2023 Sangol a 41. Aruna Narayan Waghamare 60 - 54,819 31/08/20 23 Sang ola 10/10 /2023 Junoni 42. Chhaya Ishwar Pawar 59 94,400 - 31/12/20 23 Dighe wadi 27/02 /2024 Wadhe gaon 43. Mahadev Sukhdev Kadam 63 58,317 - 31/05/20 19 Vata mbre 07/09 /2019 Sange wadi 44. Shrimant Digambar Waghmare 63 - 41,607 31/05/20 19 Manj ari 03/10 /2019 Sange wadi 45. Shankar Tatoba Mane 59 44,814 - 31/05/20 24 Gaud wadi 04/06 /2024 Kole Tal- Sangol a 46. Vaijinath Dyanu Bhosale 63 74,822 2,698 31/05/20 19 Jalbh avi 31/05 /2019 Malshir as 47. Kalyan Bajrang Nashte 66 40,752 7,875 31/05/20 17 Piliv 01/06 /2017 Piliv 48. Mirabai Sitaram Markad 64 26,790 1,44,624 31/05/20 18 Sule wadi 01/06 /2018 Piliv 49. Siddheshw ar Yashwant patil 73 26,218 - 31/05/20 05 Piliv 29/11 /2005 Piliv 50. Anand Ramchandr a Kachare 59 61,319 3,01,488 31/05/20 24 Bond ale 31/05 /2024 Velapur 51. Anita Raghunath Namde 63 1,14,57 6 5,298 12/11/20 19 Nate pute 14/09 /2020 Natepu te 52. Rajaram Gujar 59 55,781 - 31/05/20 23 Turw antdi 21/09 /2023 Akluj 53. Smt. Vrushali Hanumant solankar 44 1,46,17 4 - 31/11/20 16 Girav i 13/11 /2016 Dahiga o Nikita 5 of 8 32-wp-1972-2025.odt 4. 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 scales become payable. In some cases, at the stroke of retirement, a condition was imposed that they should execute an undertaking and in such coercive circumstances, that the undertaking were extracted from some of them. 5. 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 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 1st September, 2021, in Writ Petition No. 13262 of 2018 filed by Ananda Vikram Baviskar Vs. State of Maharashtra and others. 6. We have referred to the law laid down by the Hon'ble Nikita 6 of 8 32-wp-1972-2025.odt 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. 7. 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 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. 8. Taking into account that these Petitioners were not Nikita 7 of 8 32-wp-1972-2025.odt 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. 9. 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. 10. 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. (ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.) (RAVINDRA V. GHUGE, J.) Nikita 8 of 8