Aurangabad bench of Bombay HC
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar : Aurangabad bench of Bombay high court has directed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Zilla Parishad’s education officer (primary), Sanghratna Sarode, to pay Rs 25,000 from his own pocket to a woman teacher after finding that he failed to comply with a court order. A division bench of Justices Nitin Suryawanshi and Abasaheb Shinde passed the order on Oct 23 while hearing a civil application filed by teacher Surekha Thorat. The court noted that on Sept 21 it had allowed Thorat to report at Sillod headquarters until further orders. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on Jan 15, 2027. Thorat joined the ZP as a teacher in Nov 2003 and was transferred to a ZP school at Golegaon in Sillod in May 2023, according to the petition. On July 1, she was appointed a booth-level officer by the Sillod sub-divisional officer. An FIR was registered against her on July 7 under Section 32 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and she was suspended on July 16, prompting her to approach the HC.
Taking note of his statement, the HC cautioned him against repeating such conduct and said he “shall obey the court orders in the letter and spirit”. The court also directed him to file a written unconditional apology within two weeks. Sarode, however, directed her to report in Paithan, over 100km away. Present in court during the hearing, Sarode tendered an unconditional apology and submitted that he was a probationary officer and that it was his first mistake. In-charge CEO Vasudeo Salunke, who was also directed to remain present, was discharged from the proceedings. Thorat claimed she had applied for leave on health grounds and that the order assigning her election-related duty was not officially communicated to her.
After obtaining relief from the court on Sept 21, Thorat submitted the order to the education officer’s office on Sept 23 and sent reminders on Oct 1 and Oct 7. Alleging non-compliance, she moved the civil application on Oct 16, following which the HC directed Sarode and the CEO to remain present before it on Oct 23. Stay updated with the latest Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar news.
Explaining his action, Sarode told the court that since the transfer order had been issued by the chief executive officer (CEO), he sought the CEO’s approval before permitting Thorat to join in Sillod. The bench termed it a “lame excuse” and held that the officer’s stand was “erroneous and unacceptable”. The judges observed that despite “clear orders”, Sarode had “unnecessarily approached” the CEO, which amounted to acting “in utter disregard of the order of this court”.
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