Maharashtra’s top education officials have joined an indefinite sit-in at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan, demanding the withdrawal of an FIR against colleagues in connection with the death of a teacher during an administrative inquiry in Malegaon. The protest has also called for safeguards against arrest during official duties, reinstatement of suspended officers and action on pending administrative tribunal orders.
Primary education director Sharad Gosavi and secondary education director Mahesh Palkar joined the agitation on Wednesday, according to the Akhil Maharashtra Education Service Gazetted Officers’ Association, which is leading the protest. State board chairpersons and secretaries have also supported the sit-in.
The association said the FIR was registered at Malegaon city police station on September 9 after a teacher died during an inquiry at a school in Malegaon, in Nashik district. The officials named in the case include a block education officer, an education extension officer, a centre head, a divisional deputy director of education and an education officer.
Association president Sheshrao Bade said the officials had been carrying out a government-mandated inquiry and should not face criminal action for an incident that occurred while they were performing official duties. “One of the key demands is that education department officials should not be arrested without the permission of the school education department,” Bade said.
The association’s demands also include immediate postings for officials awaiting appointment and a review of suspensions that it described as unjustified. It has asked the government to examine disciplinary action in line with Supreme Court guidelines and a General Administration Department resolution dated April 22, 2025.
The organisation has further demanded that cases involving alleged negligence during government work first be examined through departmental proceedings under the Maharashtra Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1979, before criminal action is considered. It said the registration of criminal cases and arrests arising from official duties were affecting the morale and family lives of officers.
The indefinite protest follows a three-day pen-down strike held from September 16 to 18. The association said it had also submitted a representation to the state government, but the response did not meet its expectations. It has sought intervention from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to resolve the dispute.
According to the association, the education department has already written to the home department seeking clear guidelines for field-level officials. The protest will continue while the association presses for the FIR withdrawal, safeguards on arrests, implementation of Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal orders, reinstatement of suspended officials and postings for officers awaiting appointment.
