Shalarth ID Case: SC sets aside HC interim relief on teachers’ salaries

Nagpur: The Supreme Court on Friday set aside an interim order passed by the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court directing the Maharashtra govt to release salaries to teachers whose appointments are under scrutiny in the alleged Shalarth ID irregularities case. The top court held that the high court granted a form of relief that was effectively final in nature while the petitions were still pending adjudication.A bench comprising Justices MM Sundresh and Vipul Pancholi allowed special leave petitions filed by the Maharashtra govt challenging the interim direction issued by the high court in a batch of writ petitions filed by teachers. The teachers approached the court after receiving show-cause notices from the education department regarding verification of their appointment records.Appearing for the state, senior counsel and govt pleader Deven Chauhan argued that the interim direction had serious financial implications and affected a large number of teachers whose appointments were under verification.The top court observed that the HC "ought not to have granted the ad interim relief as the same is in the nature of a final relief seeking which the writ petitions are pending." Consequently, the bench set aside the interim order directing the state to release salaries during the pendency of the petitions.The apex court also disposed of contempt petitions filed against govt officials for alleged non-compliance with the high court's interim order.The dispute stems from a group of about 86 writ petitions filed before the Nagpur bench challenging a departmental note dated May 3, 2025, and a joint communication issued on April 29, 2025, by education authorities. These communications sought verification of appointment records of teachers whose details were linked to the Shalarth ID system used for processing salary payments in govt-aided schools across Maharashtra.While issuing notice on the petitions, the HC earlier granted interim relief directing the state govt to continue payment of salaries to the petitioners.The state govt submitted that the education department initiated an inquiry into alleged irregularities linked to the Shalarth ID system and that payment of salaries before completion of the verification process would undermine the inquiry and impose huge financial liability on the govt.Accepting these submissions in part, the Supreme Court allowed the appeals and set aside the High Court's order "only to the extent of the ad interim relief granted."However, noting that pleadings in the petitions were already completed, the top court directed the Nagpur bench to decide the matter expeditiously within four weeks.