The Pune education department has ordered the cancellation of recognition for 10 schools run by the Sinhgad Technical Education Society after teachers reportedly remained unpaid for 18 months, but the institutions will continue operating until the end of the current academic year.
The order covers six secondary schools and four primary schools across Narhe, Ambegaon, Khusgaon, Warje, Karvenagar-Erandwane and Kondhwa. It was issued by Education Deputy Director Machindranath Kadam under provisions of the Secondary School Code, according to a report by Civic Mirror – Pune.
The action followed complaints and disruption caused by the delayed salaries. Teachers who had not received their pay reportedly adopted a work stoppage, affecting regular classroom teaching and raising concerns about learning continuity for students enrolled in the schools.
The education department had directed the institution to clear regular and outstanding salaries by June 29, 2026. The report states that repeated instructions were not followed, leading to the recognition order. During the hearing, the Sinhgad institution cited financial difficulties and argued that large reimbursements under the Right to Education scheme were pending from the government. It also said that the implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission had significantly increased salary and allowance costs, while fees from parents were not being received in full or on time.
The institution reportedly told the authorities that it would be able to pay teachers once the pending RTE reimbursements were received. The department, however, did not accept the explanation as sufficient, given the prolonged period for which salaries had remained unpaid.
The six secondary schools named in the order are Sinhgad College of Arts, Commerce and Science in Narhe; Sinhgad College of Arts, Commerce and Science in Ambegaon; Sinhgad Public School in Khusgaon; R.M.D. Springdale Secondary School in Warje; R.M.D. Springdale Secondary School in Karvenagar-Erandwane; and Sinhgad College of Arts, Commerce and Science in Kondhwa.
The four primary schools are Sinhgad Springdale School in Ambegaon, Sinhgad Springdale Public School in Wadgaon, Sinhgad City School in Kondhwa and R.M.D. Sinhgad Springdale School in Warje.
The department has specified that recognition will not be withdrawn immediately. The order is scheduled to take effect from May 1, 2027, allowing students to complete the current academic year without an abrupt closure of their schools. The report says education officials will assist in shifting students to other schools for the following academic year.
The decision places responsibility on the education administration to manage student transfers, communicate with parents and ensure that academic records and future admissions are not disrupted. The institution has been given 30 days to appeal against the order before the Director of Education. The next formal step is therefore the institution’s appeal decision and the department’s arrangements for student relocation if the order remains in force.
