MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court has ordered strict use of the Pavitra Portal for teacher recruitment across Maharashtra. On October 16, the court directed the state government to formulate a “fool-proof” Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) ensuring the online system’s availability to all schools and colleges. This directive aims to end private teacher appointments and ensure transparency in the recruitment process.
Court Mandates Portal Adherence
A bench of Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Ashwin Bhobe issued the order. The court noted several educational institutions in Maharashtra currently recruit teachers privately. These institutions often claim the Pavitra Portal was non-functional or they lacked login IDs.
“There has to be strict adherence and utmost discipline to the Pavitra Portal recruitment system,” the High Court stated. The court instructed the principal secretary of the state’s Education and Sports Department to form a high-level committee. This committee, comprising at least three members, will inspect all educational institutes and submit a report. The government will then take remedial action against non-compliant institutions.
The court stressed the government’s responsibility to ensure Pavitra Portal functionality. It also mandated the provision of login IDs to all institutions. The “fool-proof” SOP must cover the portal’s availability and the continuous uploading of surplus teacher names. The High Court set a deadline of March 2026 for the SOP’s formulation.
Accountability for Officers and Institutions
The bench observed numerous instances of private appointments. These occurred because state education officers failed to furnish lists of surplus teachers. The High Court called for strict action against such erring officers.
The court warned that allowing private teacher recruitment effectively “neutralizes” the Pavitra Portal system. “We did not expect such a deteriorating situation,” the HC remarked. It added, “The state government needs to hold every education officer accountable and should deal with the issue with a firm hand.”
Background of the Case
The order arose from petitions filed by a group of teachers and the Sudhagad Education Society from Raigad district. They challenged the rejection of their proposal to approve their appointment as Shikshan Sevak. The teachers were appointed privately in 2022 .
The petitioner institute claimed the government’s Pavitra Portal System was not activated. However, the government argued it rejected the proposal because the Pavitra Portal was available. It also stated a login ID had been allotted to the petitioner institute. The government asserted the institute ignored the portal and proceeded with private recruitment.
A 2017 government decision mandated that even private educational institutes recruit teachers exclusively through the Pavitra Portal. The government highlighted that the Sudhagad Education Society had not appointed any teacher through the system since the portal’s activation eight years ago.
The court’s order noted the Pavitra Portal was indeed functional. A login ID was also allocated to the petitioner institute. The institute had continuously made private recruitments since 2017, consistently claiming the portal was non-functional. The High Court concluded that with the portal active and a login ID available, the institute could not engage in a private recruitment process.