Nagpur: The lethargic attitude shown by an Education Officer cost him dear as he was hammered with a fine of Rs 50,000 by the Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court. The Zilla Parishad Education Officer was given lots of opportunities to file an affidavit in the court but he failed to do so and thus invited the tough action and hefty fine as well. The matter pertained to non-payment of salaries to two education employees (Shikshan Sevaks) in which a petition has been filed in the High Court.
According to details, the two petitioners Pravin Manikrao Gohotre and Sagar Purshottam Akarte a few years ago were appointed on the posts of Shikshan Sevaks in Janata High School, run by Sevadal Shikshan Sanstha in Khairgaon. Even though both completed three years of service they were not paid salaries. Gohotre and Akarte knocked doors of the Education Officer several times but to no avail. Meanwhile, the Education Officer, on April 7, 2015, declared Gohotre and Akarte as extra staff forcing them to approach the High Court and challenge the order. In the initial hearing on the petitions held before the Bench of Justice Bhushan Gavai and Justice Mrudula Bhatkar, the court had issued notices to School Education Secretary and Middle School Education Officer of Zilla Parishad. However, the Education Officer never bothered to file an affidavit in the matter. And when the ‘extra staff’ matter came up before the High Court, the order of Education Officer was ordered to be maintained “as it is.”
The Education Officer thereafter again failed to file the affidavit as directed by the High Court even after giving lots of opportunities. The lethargic attitude displayed by the Education Officer left the Justice Gavai and Justice Bhatkar outraged and they ordered a fine of Rs 50,000 on the ‘devil-may-care Education Officer.
Adv Rishikesh Chitale represented the petitioners while Assistant Government Pleader Shyam Ahirkar appeared for State Government.
