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Synopsis

An education officer who was suspended following the sexual assault incident in a Badlapur kindergarten school has moved the Bombay High Court, claiming that he is being made a scapegoat.

The petition was heard today by a division bench of the high court, comprising Justice A.S. Chandurkar and Justice Rajesh Patil.

Advocate Satish Talekar, appearing for Balasaheb Rakshe, argued that there was no complaint against Rakshe and that he had appropriately prepared a report and sent it to the Director of Education. He further contended that Rakshe was suspended to allow the government to save face.

“As soon as he came to know he asked the block development officer. He got the report in 2 days and sent it to the director of education. Petitioner is not responsible. The government wanted to hold someone and just to save its face,” Talekar submitted.

Rakshe had earlier approached the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal (MAT), but the tribunal refused to stay the suspension.

After the MAT adjourned the matter for four weeks without granting any interim relief, Rakshe approached the high court seeking relief.

Rakshe also claimed that he was not informed about the suspension and only learned about it through social media.

The government pleader submitted that it is a settled law that suspension is not a form of punishment.

Advocate Talekar urged the court to grant a stay on the suspension. However, the court stated that it would first call upon the state to file its reply.

Accordingly, the court directed the state to file a reply and posted the matter for hearing after a week.

Case title: Balasaheb Rakshe vs State of Maharashtra