Balasaheb Rakshe, an education officer suspended in connection with a sexual assault case at a Badlapur kindergarten, has taken his case to the Bombay High Court, alleging that he is being unjustly scapegoated.

The incident in question involves allegations of sexual assault occurring at a local school, prompting an investigation and subsequent actions by the government.

In today's hearing before a division bench of Justices A.S. Chandurkar and Rajesh Patil.

Rakshe's lawyer, Advocate Satish Talekar, presented a case arguing that Rakshe's suspension was baseless and intended to deflect responsibility from the government. Talekar asserted that there was no direct complaint against Rakshe and that he had acted in accordance with his duties by preparing and forwarding a detailed report on the incident to the Director of Education.

Talekar emphasized that Rakshe had sought prompt information from the block development officer and submitted the report within two days of learning about the incident. He accused the government of using Rakshe as a convenient scapegoat to maintain its public image, rather than addressing the core issues surrounding the incident.

Adding to the complexity of the situation, Rakshe revealed that he was unaware of his suspension until he discovered it through social media, rather than receiving any official communication. This revelation added to his claim that the suspension process lacked transparency and fairness.

Earlier, Rakshe had approached the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal (MAT) seeking a stay on his suspension. However, the MAT declined to grant an interim relief and adjourned the matter for four weeks. Frustrated by the lack of immediate relief, Rakshe escalated the issue to the Bombay High Court.

The government, represented by a pleader in court, maintained that suspension is a procedural measure rather than a punitive action, and thus did not require immediate justification. This stance was aimed at demonstrating that suspension itself is not a form of punishment but a standard administrative response pending further investigation.

In response to Talekar's plea for a stay on the suspension, the High Court decided to first seek the state’s formal reply before making any determination. The court has directed the state to file its response within a week, after which the case will be reviewed again.

The outcome of this case could have significant implications not only for Rakshe but also for the broader administrative practices concerning disciplinary actions in similar cases. The Bombay High Court’s decision will likely be closely watched as it addresses the intersection of administrative accountability and procedural fairness in handling sensitive allegations