Nagpur: The Maharashtra government informed that its education officers had granted irregular approvals to over 4,000 teaching/non-teaching employees over the years, in complete violation of rules and regulations.This was informed through an affidavit submitted by senior officer in deputy director of education’s office, Suresh Mali, in Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court.Flaying the government of paying salaries to such a high number of irregular teachers without verification, a division bench comprising justices Bhushan Dharmadhikari and SM Modak adjourned the hearing by two weeks.The bench was hearing a suo motu PIL (No 108/2018) against State School Education Department, where PA Jibhkate was appointed as amicus curiae. The PIL is attached with a bunch of petitions filed by the school and junior college managements through Bhanudas Kulkarni and other counsels.The affidavit mentioned that the government had conducted deep and detailed enquiry into alleged irregular approvals. After verification of all official files, documents and papers submitted by concern employees and authority of school, it came to the conclusion that the concerned education officers were responsible for this mess.According to the affidavit, about 488 appointments in primary schools were found to be irregular, 2,805 in secondary and 718 in higher secondary ones. Of them, hearings were granted to 1,799 cases and decisions were taken in 1,084 cases. Till date, the government had cancelled 305 approvals and 779 were granted approvals to continue.Mali informed that after the hearings, personal responsibilities are fixed for losses caused due to irregular/illegal approvals granted by the education officers in terms of disciplinary proceedings (suspension/departmental inquiry) against them.“The government has taken adequate steps/actions against its own employee. The respondents are duty-bound for the effective implementation of government resolutions (GR), circulars and notifications issued by the government. In view of all these facts and circumstances, now is necessary to absorb the surplus teachers first, from list of school education department to fill up vacant schools,” he said.The government issued two circulars in regards to the irregularities taken place in individual approvals accorded to the teaching and non-teaching staffs. “Those have to be scrutinized by giving opportunity, to all concern parties and to pass the reasoned order while continuing/or cancelling the approval which is accorded to them,” Mali said.As per circular of February 23 last year, instructions were given to all regional officers to adopt the inquiry procedure against irregularities taken place in individual approvals accorded to teaching and non- teaching staff in state. After completion of the process, the commissioner of Education submitted the inquiry report to the education department, he added.

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