Nagpur: In a significant interim relief to the Maharashtra Government in the Shalarth ID scam, the Supreme Court has put on hold payment of nearly Rs 80 crore in salary arrears to teachers facing appointment-related inquiries, while directing the State to continue disbursing their regular monthly salaries.
A Bench comprising Justice M M Sundresh and Justice Prasanna B Varale issued the directions while entertaining petitions filed by the State Government challenging an April 21, 2026, judgment of the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court.
The High Court had granted relief to around 89 teachers employed in various educational institutions whose salaries were discontinued from March 2025 following investigations into alleged irregularities in appointments associated with the Shalarth ID scam. It had directed the Government to release their salaries and quashed the inquiry proceedings conducted by an officer appointed by the Education Department.
Government challenges High Court’s intervention
Challenging the judgment, the State Government contended before the apex court that the teachers had approached the High Court principally seeking restoration of their salaries and had not specifically questioned either the appointment of the inquiry officer or the inquiry report.
The Government argued that the inquiry officer had found the appointments illegal and fraudulent, yet the High Court had set aside the entire inquiry process without a specific challenge to its findings.
The State maintained that such an intervention had effectively neutralised the findings of an inquiry into alleged fraudulent appointments.
Arrears withheld, current salaries protected
After hearing senior advocates representing both sides, the Supreme Court issued notices in the State’s petitions and sought counter affidavits from the respondents within four weeks. Rejoinders, if any, may be filed within two weeks thereafter.
While condoning the delay in filing the petitions, the Bench clarified that the State Government would not be required to release the accumulated salary arrears during the pendency of the proceedings. However, it must continue paying the teachers their current salaries.
The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on January 27, 2027.
Multiple petitions challenge relief to employees
The State Government has filed several petitions before the Supreme Court challenging the High Court’s judgment in cases involving different employees allegedly linked to irregular appointments under the Shalarth ID scam.
Three such petitions were listed before the apex court when the interim order was passed.
Senior Advocate Devendra Chauhan appeared for the State, assisted by advocates Gagan Sanghi and Siddharth Dharmadhikari. Senior Advocates Babu H Marlapalle and Dama Seshadri Naidu represented the respondents, assisted by other advocates.
The Supreme Court’s interim arrangement effectively safeguards the State’s financial position against the immediate burden of substantial salary arrears while ensuring that the affected teachers are not deprived of their ongoing monthly income pending adjudication.
