Ajit Pawar demands withdrawal of GR on contractual hiring
Mumbai (PTI): Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Ajit Pawar on Wednesday demanded that the government withdraw a Government Resolution (GR) or order about recruitment on a contractual basis.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, however, said it was the right decision, and also pointed out that it had been taken by the previous MVA government of which Pawar was a part.
He also said that contractual hiring would be done for only certain specific projects.
Speaking in the Assembly, Pawar said the hiring of government employees on a contractual basis puts a question mark on secrecy which government employees are supposed to maintain in certain official matters.
Also, some contractually hired employees end up getting more salary than the state's chief secretary, said the Nationalist Congress Party leader.
The GR, issued on Tuesday, states that recruitment in the industries, energy and labour departments will be done on a contractual basis through private agencies, Pawar said.
He also questioned the timing of the GR, saying that when government employees are agitating for the Old Pension Scheme, the government has decided to hire people on a contractual basis.
In reply, Fadnavis said the decision about hiring people in this manner was taken and the tender was issued during the MVA regime, and his government was implementing it because it was the right decision.
The GR was only about certain specific projects, he added.
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Allahabad HC orders probe into 'reinstatement' of teacher in UP's Barabanki
Lucknow (PTI): The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court on Friday ordered a probe by the special task force (STF) into alleged irregularities in the rejoining of a teacher at City Intermediate College in Barabanki, observing that the reinstatement appeared to be prima facie illegal.
The court also directed the recovery of the salary paid to the teacher during the disputed period.
A bench of Justice Rajeev Singh passed the order on a petition filed by the college management committee. The court expressed doubts over the roles of the District Inspector of Schools (DIOS), Barabanki, the college principal and the teacher concerned and hence, directed a detailed inquiry into the matter.
Taking note of alleged manipulation of records and misleading submissions, the court ordered the immediate transfer of the Barabanki DIOS to ensure a fair probe. It also directed the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against the then joint director of education of the Ayodhya division.
In its order, the court found that the teacher, Abhay Kumar, was initially appointed as an assistant teacher in 2018 but joined an Eklavya Model Residential School in Chhattisgarh as a lecturer in June 2024 without obtaining permission from the management. His subsequent request to retain the lien was rejected.
Despite this, he was allowed to rejoin the Barabanki College in September 2025 on the directions of the joint director of education and the DIOS, and was even paid the salary for October 2025. The court termed the rejoining "wholly illegal" and lacking any legal basis.
The bench also expressed concern over lapses in communication within the education department and directed the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary to ensure that official orders are communicated through email and WhatsApp as well, to prevent disputes.
The matter is next listed for hearing on May 28 when a compliance report is sought.
