33-wp-1973-2025.odt IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO.1973 OF 2025 Shivanand Vitthal Bharale and Ors. …..Petitioners 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. N. C. Walimbe, Addl. G. P. a/w Mr. S. P. Kamble, for Respondent Nos.1 and 2 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, purportedly for the reason that excess amounts were paid to them, Nikita 1 of 9 NIKITA KAILAS DARADE Digitally signed by NIKITA KAILAS DARADE Date: 2025.02.20 11:40:14 +0530 33-wp-1973-2025.odt 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 Payme nt Recove ry Retired Date Z.P. School Date Of Impug ned Order Permane nt Address 1. Shivanand Vitthal Bharale 59 2380 5/31/202 3 Sindhakhed Tal- S.Solapur 5/22/2 023 Plot No.10 Jule Solapur 2. Siddheshwar Khandu Dhasade 59 2963 3/31/202 3 Mundhewadi Tal- Mangalwedh a 4/13/2 023 Mundhe wadi Tal- Mangal wedha 3. Sabakar Shamrao Balchhatre 59 62734 5/31/202 4 Lonar Tal- Mangalwedh a 6/3/20 24 Shirashi Tal- Mangalw edha 4. Surykant Bapurav Jadhav 59 48521 5/31/202 4 Dhavlas Tal- Mangalwedh a 6/5/20 24 Sap- tashrung inagar Tal- Mangal wedha 5. Narasappa Mahadev Kandarge 59 38577 5/31/202 3 Khairat Tal- Akkalkoat 10/4/2 024 Kini Tal- Akkalko at 6. Laxmibai Shivanand Chivadshetti 59 42636 5/31/202 4 Mungalur(P) Tal- Akkalkoat 5/30/2 024 Hotagi Road Tal- S.Solapu r 7. Shrikrishna 64 93703 886 5/31/202 Malakavathe 7/16/2 Soregav Nikita 2 of 9 33-wp-1973-2025.odt Gurappa Kumbhar 0 Tal- S.Solapur 020 Tal- N.Solapu r 8. Bhalchandra Maruti Kale 64 46518 9/26/202 0 Akole(bhi) Tal- Mangalwedh a 12/29/ 2020 Mitra Nagar Tal- Mangal wedha 9. Arati Subhash Patil (Late- Subhash Aba Patil) 51 93078 432 4/25/201 9 Khom- nal Tal- Mangalwedh a 9/18/2 019 Bhalewa di Tal- Mangalw edha 10. Pushpa Shiv- shankar Cha- van (Late- Shivshankar Maryappa chavan) 61 54702 188 4/27/202 1 Khom- nal Tal- Mangalwedh a 9/3/20 21 Mudhe Galli Mangal wedha 11. Sadashiv Mortyappa Kengar 61 50445 871 5/31/202 1 Nandur Tal- Mangalwedh a 4/7/20 21 Shivangi Tal- Mangalw edha 12. Sukhdeo Banda Mali 63 56644 73628 5/31/201 9 Shetafal Tal- Pandharpur 11/18/ 2019 Ozewadi Tal- Pandharp ur 13. Nagannath Sidram Upase 59 50867 10/30/20 22 Tal- sangi Tal- Mangalwedh a 9/6/20 23 Mund- hewadi Tal- Mangal wedha 14. Mallikarjun Tukaram Anandpure 59 53913 5/31/202 4 Mangalwedh a 5/30/2 024 Donaj Tal- Mangalw edha 15. Bhauramma Kashiram Kumbhar (Late- Kashiram Sankoda Kumbhar) 54 47019 639 8/30/202 1 Malewadi (H) Tal- Mangalwedh a 4/18/2 022 Nandur Tal- Mangalw edha 16. Chanappa Mahadappa Kumbhar 59 49930 5/31/202 3 Chikkalgi Tal- Mangalwedh a 9/1/20 23 Nandur Tal- Mangalw edha 17. Madhukar Shankar Kolekar 59 52947 5/31/202 3 Patkhal Tal- Mangalwedh a 2/27/2 024 Laxmi Dahi- wadi Tal- Mangalw edha 18. Rajendra Shivdas Mane 59 157203 270 5/31/202 3 Nilaj Tal- Karmala 9/26/2 023 Karmala Tal- Karmala 19. Bhimrav Trimbak Kalbhor 59 46970 2945 5/31/202 3 Bemble Tal- Madha 11/6/2 023 Ghoti Tal- Madha 20. Navnath Eknath Samse 63 45912 7977 5/31/201 9 Chikkalthan Tal- Karmala 10/3/2 019 Kedagav Tal- Karmala 21. Abhiman Dagadu Pakhare 62 45912 3056 5/31/202 0 Parithe Tal- Madha 7/16/2 020 Ghoti Tal- Madha 22. Hanumant Ambadas Bhagat 59 45135 1034 5/31/202 3 Vavhe Tal- Karmala 9/27/2 023 Jeur Tal- Karmala 23. Sitaram Dattu Bhil 59 47891 5/31/202 4 Umarad Tal - Karmala 6/11/2 024 Manjarga v Tal- Nikita 3 of 9 33-wp-1973-2025.odt Karmala 24. Vikas Sukhdev Kanhere 59 46044 5/31/202 3 Kumbhej Tal- Karmala 9/7/20 23 Kumbhej Tal- Karmala 25. Bhahu Dhondiba Kambale 61 48823 3072 5/31/202 1 Anjandoh Tal-Karmala 11/24/ 2021 Undargav Tal- Karmala 26. Nandu Shrihari Lande 59 52409 5/31/202 3 Panagav Tal- Barshi 10/4/2 023 Barshi Tal- Barshi 27. Shivaji Sarjerao Deokar 61 48823 1644 5/31/202 1 Varakatane Tal- Karmala 11/24/ 2021 Kem Tal- Karmala 28. Sidramaya Rachayya Swami 65 28948 11/30/20 17 Kasegaov Tal- Pandharpur 3/27/2 018 147 C Ganesh Naik Shala Jule Solpur 29. Arun Keshav Jadhawar 59 305446 5/31/202 3 Jahanpur Tal- Barshi 10/6/2 023 Dhotre Tal- Barshi 30. Mangal Jaydeo Aware 59 46970 52989 5/31/202 3 Chandannagar (Lambo ti) Tal- Mohol 9/11/2 023 Samarth Nagar Tal - Mohol 31. Chandrakant Dattatray Khule 59 56444 14923 0 5/31/202 3 Sonake Tal- Pandharpur 9/27/2 023 Mahim Tal- Sangola 32. Noorjaha Bandenawaj Shaikh 59 52944 7/31/202 3 Hattur (Boys) Tal- S.Solpaur 11/7/2 023 Atar Nagar Solapur 33. Bhaurao Ganpat Talekar 60 56640 3384 5/31/202 2 Kem Tal- Karmala 6/9/20 22 Kem Tal- Karmala 34. Bhausaheb Hirelal Kangale 62 48377 3/31/202 0 Saunde Tal- Karmala 7/16/2 020 Kem Tal- Karmala 35. Bhaskar Janardan Khupase 60 46044 5/31/202 2 Kandar Tal- Karmala 5/24/2 022 Satoli Tal- Karmala 36. Mahadev Kallappa Hattali 59 73649 14921 5/31/202 4 Lonar Tal- Mangalwedh a 6/6/20 24 Maroli Tal- Mangalw edha 37. Farajana Jainoddin Patil 60 48696 874 6/30/202 2 Togarali Tal- S.Solapur 10/13/ 2022 MIDC Solapur 38. Namdeo Maruti Randave 59 46044 5/31/202 3 Ghoti Tal- Karmala 10/14/ 2023 Kem Tal- Karmala 39. Chaya Kishor More 64 87112 1860 5/31/201 8 WidiGharkul Tal- S.Solapur 12/27/ 2018 Ekatanag ar Near Walchan d Collage Solapur 40. Akhlaque Ahmed Khajanoddin Shaikh 59 95353 5/31/202 4 Urdu School Sangola 6/7/20 24 Takali Road Pandharp ur 41. Vilas Vithoba Waghmare 59 172171 5/31/202 3 Chikhalthan Tal- Karmala 8/25/2 023 Pofalaj Tal- Karmala 42. Rajashree Panchakshari Swami 64 23147 1240 5/31/201 8 Hiraj Tal- N.Solapur 7/2/20 18 13 Vijapur Road Solapur 43. Kusum Shivaji Navatre 62 48696 1646 5/31/202 0 Gulavanchi Tal- N.Solapur 12/14/ 2020 Hotagi Road Tal- S.Solapu r Nikita 4 of 9 33-wp-1973-2025.odt 44. Nassema Musa Patel 63 51653 13437 4/30/201 9 Shramjivinag ar Tal- N.Solapur 9/24/2 019 Ramling Society Solapur 45. Minakshi Jagannath Babaleshwar 62 51348 850 31-11- 2020 Shelagi Tal- N.Solapur 12/16/ 2020 Shelagi Tal- N.Solapu r 46. Suresh Laxman Jadhav 59 109906 5/31/202 4 Aherawadi Tal- S.Solapur 6/19/2 024 Hattureva sti Solapur 47. Bebi Dhondiba Sakhare 61 43342 1/31/202 1 Tale Hip- parge Tal- N.Solapur 3/5/20 21 Javaharal alnagar S.Solapur 48. Arefa Begum Ajij Mulani 65 8370 61268 5/31/201 7 Lokmanyanag ar Tal- N.Solapur 5/29/2 017 Vijapur Raod Solapur 49. Kaka Gulab Dhavare 62 61001 7400 31-06- 2020 Aheagav Tal- Madha 12/16/ 2020 Tembhur ni Tal- Madha 50. Nanda Samadhan Narute 61 75456 5/31/202 1 Narakhed Tal-Mohol 7/19/2 021 Pokharap ur Tal- Mohol 51. Mahadev Sitaram chavan 59 55533 5/31/202 3 Kini Tal- Akkalkoat 9/27/2 023 Chaplaga on Tal- Akkalkoa t 52. Subhashachan dra Chanbasappa Patil 59 52244 4/30/202 4 Kumbhari Tal- S.Solapur 7/22/2 024 Boramani Tal- S.Solapur 53. Abhimanyu Mahadev Kalbhor 59 322652 5/31/202 4 Ghoti Tal- Madha 6/12/2 024 Ghoti Tal- Madha 54. Meera Krishana Gaikwad 61 58469 21594 5/31/202 1 Fulchincholi Tal- Pandharpur 4/20/2 022 Tungat Tal- Pandharp ur 55. Subhedar Mahibub Khajebhai 59 101910 5/31/202 3 Madha Tal- Madha 8/7/20 23 Majarew adi Tal- N.Solapu r 56. Pramila Ramchandra Doke 61 98341 5/31/202 1 Saundane Tal-Mohol 6/14/2 021 Samarth Nagar Tal - Mohol 57. Sunita chandrashekar Mayanale 60 59860 12/31/20 22 WidiGharkul Tal- S.Solapur 4/5/20 23 MIDC Solapur 58. Khatanbi Badshaha Atar 60 214231 14099 7 5/31/202 2 Sapatane Tal- Madha 3/14/2 024 Madha Tal- Madha 59. Uma Dnyaneshwar Salunke 60 45912 17096 8 5/31/202 2 Warvade Tal- Madha 5/24/2 024 Tembhur ni Tal- Madha 60. Kavita Sanjay Potdar 59 30317 2 2/29/202 4 Bankalgi Tal- S.solapur 6/14/2 024 Jule Solapur 61. Jayashri Mahlakari Kokare 59 31710 9 5/31/202 4 Yatnal Tal- S.Solapur 10/22/ 2024 Vijapur Raod Solapur 62. Kunda Rejesh Rajguru 59 23760 0 3/31/202 4 Kumbhari Tal- S.Solapur 3/20/2 024 Vijapur Raod Solapur 63. Smita Anandkumar Kore 59 47297 10/31/20 23 Wadabal Tal- S.Solpaur 11/7/2 023 Vijapur Raod Solapur 64. Nita Shashikant More 60 53404 10/31/20 22 Honamurgi Tal- S.Solpaur 3/15/2 024 Jule Solapur 65. Hanmantrao shivputra Vhasale 62 78303 6/30/202 0 Kanbas Tal- S. Solapur 7/9/20 20 Shiraval Tal- S.Solpau Nikita 5 of 9 33-wp-1973-2025.odt r 66. Mahadevi Shivayya Swami (Late- Shiv- ayya chandrashekha rayya Swami) 60 346973 29024 6 10/14/20 22 Ahreawadi Tal- S.Solpaur 2/15/2 024 Ahreawa di Tal- S.Solpaur 67. Rajshekhar Dharmanna Chabukswar 59 67168 5/31/202 4 Guddewadi Tal- Akkalkoat 5/29/2 024 Saiful Tal- S.Solapur 68. Ramchandra Mallikarjun Birajdar 62 60004 5/31/202 0 WidiGharkul Tal- S.Solapur 10/21/ 2020 Darganha li Tal- S.Solapur 69. Nillappa Chandrashekar Balganure 60 64072 6/30/202 2 Rampur Tal- S.Solapur 8/10/2 023 Dhotre Tal- S.Solapur 70. Basavraj Sidram Sulgadale 59 40135 5/31/202 4 Tandulwadi Tal- S.Solpaur 6/13/2 024 DobarJav alge Tal- Akkalkoa t 71. Parvati Yuvraj Jadhav 60 41301 5/31/202 2 Mandrup Tal- S.Solpaur 10/17/ 2022 Wagadari Tal - Akkalko at 72. Hasina Paigambar Mulani 60 51000 1255 5/31/202 2 Raygav Tal- Karmala 7/5/20 22 Upalai Tal- Madha 73. Mangala Amarnath Ishwarkatti 60 48696 1618 10/31/20 22 Hattur (Boys) Tal- S.Solpaur 3/31/2 023 Saiful Tal- S.Solapur 74. Annappa Bhimsha Jadhav 59 69156 14921 5/31/202 4 Nandur Tal- Mangalwedh a 6/3/20 24 Donaj Tal- Mangalw edha 75. Satyabhama Annappa Patil 64 23417 5/31/201 8 Borale (Girls) Tal- Mangalwedh a 8/9/20 18 Borale Tal- Mangalw edha 76. Ramchandra Guruling Yenape 63 70235 1187 5/31/201 9 Bhose Tal- Mangalwedh a 9/24/2 019 Nandur Tal- Mangalw edha 77. Kanchan Ramchandra Yenape 63 64421 28929 5/31/201 9 Huljanti Tal- Mangalwedh a 9/24/2 019 Nandur Tal- Mangalw edha 78. Vishwanath Ganpati Patil 59 47891 5/31/202 4 Dongargaon Tal- Mangalwedh a 6/3/20 24 Arali Tal- Mangalw edha 79. Vishwanath Ganpati Patil (Late- Laxmibai Rama Sundye) 61 63433 868 5/3/2021 Arali Tal- Mangalwedh a 9/3/20 21 Arali Tal- Mangalw edha 4. We have considered the strenuous submissions of the learned Advocates. It is, however, undisputed that none of these Nikita 6 of 9 33-wp-1973-2025.odt 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 scale become payable. In some cases, at the stroke of retirement, a condition was imposed that they should execute an undertaking and in these coercive circumstances, that 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 Supreme Court in High Court of Punjab and Haryana and others vs. Jagdev Singh (supra). However, the record reveals that no Nikita 7 of 9 33-wp-1973-2025.odt 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 involved in any mischief, fraud or deceit in orchestrating their Nikita 8 of 9 33-wp-1973-2025.odt 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 9 of 9