Badlapur sexual abuse case: Bombay High Court asks court to consider suspended education official’s interim injunction petition

The Bombay High Court on Friday directed the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal (MAT) to decide by October 4 on the interim injunction petition filed by the Thane Education Officer (Primary), who was suspended last month in Badlapur following protests against the sexual abuse of two kindergarten children.

The officer, Balasaheb Rakshe, was suspended on August 23 following protests in Badlapur after two kindergarten children were sexually abused by a cleaner on the school premises between August 12 and 13.

Rakshe challenged his suspension in the MAT, which stayed the matter pending a response from the state government. Unhappy with the delay, Rakshe approached the Supreme Court.

His lawyers Satish Talekar and Madhvi Ayappan argued that the suspension was a political decision, pointing out that another officer, Rajesh Kankal, had been reinstated while Rakshe remained suspended.

They claimed that the state education minister viewed the case as a prestige issue and questioned why the minister was not held accountable for the incident.

Additional government counsel BV Samant opposed the application, stating that the suspension was a procedural tool to aid the agency's investigation and not a punishment. He added that the minister had acted due to inadequate action by Rakshe and demanded more time for the state to respond before the MAT.

A bench comprising Justice AS Chandurkar and Rajesh Patil dismissed the petition and directed MAT to take up the matter immediately.