[Badlapur Kindergarten Rape] ‘Politically Motivated, I’m Just a Scapegoat’: HC Seeks Maharashtra Govt’s Response to Suspended Education Officer’s Plea

The Bombay High Court Today (Aug 30) directed the Maharashtra government to respond to a plea filed by an education officer from Thane district seeking a stay on his suspension following the alleged sexual abuse of two girls at a school in Badlapur.

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MUMBAI: On Friday, August 30, the Bombay High Court directed the Maharashtra government to respond to a petition filed by Balasaheb Rakshe, an education officer from Thane district. Rakshe is seeking a stay on his suspension following allegations of sexual abuse involving two young girls at a school in Badlapur.

Rakshe’s suspension, which he claims is “politically motivated,” has been contested on the grounds that he is being unfairly targeted as a “scapegoat.” The education officer had initially approached the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal (MAT) for interim relief, but his request was denied on August 26.

Subsequently, Rakshe moved to the Bombay High Court, requesting the suspension order be stayed pending a final hearing of his petition before MAT. He also sought an order to prevent the state government from appointing another officer to his post during this period.

A division bench consisting of Justices A S Chandurkar and Rajesh Patil directed the Maharashtra government to file an affidavit by September 6, when the plea will be further heard. Rakshe’s advocate, S B Talekar, argued for the court to maintain the status quo until the next hearing, but the bench decided to consider this request during the forthcoming session.

Talekar contended that Rakshe had not engaged in any misconduct and that the suspension was an attempt by the government to “save its face” following the Badlapur incident.

He stated-

“The petitioner (Rakshe) has been made a scapegoat. The government made a statement first before the media that two education officers have been suspended and then issued the suspension order.”

The incident that led to Rakshe’s suspension involved the sexual abuse of two kindergarteners by a male attendant at a school in Badlapur. Rakshe claims he was informed of the abuse on August 18 and immediately contacted the Ambernath block education officer to investigate the matter and submit a report.

By August 20, after receiving the report, Rakshe issued a show-cause notice to the school’s president, secretary, and headmaster, questioning the absence of functional CCTV cameras on the premises.

Rakshe further asserted that he had taken appropriate actions by forwarding the inquiry report to the director of education (primary) in Pune and the deputy director of education (primary) in Mumbai.

Additionally, on August 21, a committee of administrators was established to manage the school in Badlapur. Rakshe also directed the headmasters of all primary, secondary, and higher secondary schools to install CCTV cameras, complaint boxes, and create student safety committees.

Despite these measures, Rakshe was placed under suspension following a public announcement by the Minister for School Education. In his plea, Rakshe emphasized that he is not responsible for the regulation and supervision of pre-primary centers, thus arguing that his suspension was unwarranted.

The case continues as the Bombay High Court awaits the Maharashtra government’s response by September 6, which will likely determine the next steps in Rakshe’s legal battle to overturn his suspension.

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