Bombay High Court
SUREKHA SHRAVAN NIMBHOREversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA THROUGH ITS SECRETARY AND OTHERS
- Disposal
- DISPOSED OFF
Holding
Respondent No. 5 is directed to decide the pending salary proposals within four weeks from the date of the order.
Summary
Surekha Shravan Nimbhore, a government employee, filed a writ petition seeking mandamus directing the State of Maharashtra and education officials to sanction and release her salary arrears and increments for October 2020 to February 2023, based on proposals submitted in March 2024, March 2025 and June 2025. The petitioners alleged that the proposals were pending with the Superintendent of the Pay Unit. The State’s AGP and the education officials waived service of notice and undertook to decide the proposals on merits within four weeks. The Court accepted this undertaking and ordered Respondent No. 5 (the Superintendent) to decide the pending proposals within four weeks from the date of the order. No specific statutory provision or precedent was cited. The petition was consequently disposed with the direction to the respondent.
Issues considered
- Whether the High Court can issue a writ of mandamus directing the State and its officials to sanction and release arrears of salary and increments of a government employee.
- Whether the Court can impose a specific time‑frame on the respondent to decide pending salary proposals.
Subjects
- salary arrears
- mandamus
- public servant
- wage dues
- administrative delay
- High Court
Judgment
1 936WP3710.2026.odt
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
BENCH AT AURANGABAD
936 WRIT PETITION NO. 3710 OF 2026
Surekha Shravan Nimbhore
VERSUS
State Of Maharashtra Through Its Secretary And Others
...
Mr. Rohit Kharat h/f Mr. V. S. Panpatte - Advocate for the Petitioner
Miss Neha B. Kamble - AGP for the State
Mr. Maheshkumar S. Sonawane - Advocate for Respondent Nos. 4 and 5
...
CORAM : SMT. VIBHA KANKANWADI
AND
HITEN S. VENEGAVKAR, JJ.
DATED : 08TH APRIL, 2026
PER COURT : -
1. The present petition has been filed seeking the following
reliefs: -
“B) By issue of Writ of mandamus or Order or direction in the like
nature, the Respondent No. 3 may kindly be directed to
sanction the proposal dated 15.03.2024, 15.03.2025, and
23.06.2025 (Exhibit "E", collectively) submitted for getting
arrears of salary along with increments of the petitioners
since October, 2020 to February, 2023 with interest thereon
as per proposals within two weeks from today;
C) By issue of Writ mandamus or Order or direction in the like
nature, the Respondent No.4 and 5 i.e. Education Officer
(Primary) and the Superintendent of pay unit, Education
Department, (Primary), Zilla Parishad, Jalgaon may kindly be
directed to sanction and release the arrears of salary along
with increments in favour of petitioners forthwith;
D) Pending hearing and final disposal of the Writ Petition, the
Respondent No.4 and 5 j.e. Education Officer (P.) and the
Superintendent of pay unit, Education Department, (P.), Zilla
Parishad, Jalgaon may kindly be directed to deposit the
2 936WP3710.2026.odt
arrears of their salary along with increments since October,
2020 to February, 2023 as per proposals dated 15.03.2024,
15.03.2025, and 23.06.2025 (Exhibit "E", collectively) in this
Hon'ble High Court forthwith.”
2. It appears that the Proposals/Pay Bills for the period
October– 2020 to February – 2023 i.e. in respect of arrears of Salary of
the Petitioners, are pending with Respondent No. 5. They were
submitted on 15.03.2024, 15.03.2025, and 23.06.2025 by Respondent
No.7/Petitioners.
3. The learned AGP waives service of notice on behalf of
Respondent Nos. 1 to 3. Learned Advocate Mr. Maheshkumar S.
Sonawane waives service of notice on behalf of Respondent Nos. 4 and
5. There is no necessity to issue notice to Respondent Nos. 6 and 7.
4. Learned Advocate for Respondent Nos. 4 and 5 submits,
upon instructions, that the said Proposals/Pay Bills dated 15.03.2024,
15.03.2025, and 23.06.2025 [Exh. ‘E’ collectively] would be decided on
their own merits within a period of four (4) weeks.
5. The statement made by the learned Advocate for
Respondent Nos. 4 and 5 is accepted as an undertaking to the Court,
and we dispose of the Petition by directing Respondent No. 5 to decide
the said Proposals/Pay Bills dated 15.03.2024, 15.03.2025, and
23.06.2025 within a period of four (4) weeks from today.
[HITEN S. VENEGAVKAR] [SMT. VIBHA KANKANWADI]
JUDGE JUDGE
SG Punde
Signed by: Sandeep Gulabrao Punde
Designation: PS To Honourable Judge
Date: 09/04/2026 19:38:00
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