SUSHMITA NEGI vs THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

Judgment text excerpt

Digitally signed by GAURI AMIT GAURI GAEKWAD 902.WP-1185-2023.odt AMIT Date: GAEKWAD 2026.02.02 12:22:40 +0530 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO.1185 OF 2023 Dr. Sushmita Negi, aged 59 Indian citizen Associate Professor in Botany at Patkar Varde College, Mumbai residing at 703/92, Poonam Complex Shanti Park, Mira Road (E) District Palghar 401 107 ....Petitioner Versus 1. The State of Maharashtra through Principal Secretary in the Department of Higher & Technical Education Mantralaya, Mumbai – 400 032 2. The Director of Higher Education Maharashtra State, Central Building Pune 411 001 3. The Joint Director of Higher Education Mumbai Region, Elphinstone Technical School, Mahapalika Road, Mumbai 400 001 4. Chikitsak Samuha A registered Trust / Society having office at Patkar College Goregaon (W), Mumbai 400 104 (through its Secretary) www.patkarvardecollege.edu.in 5. SSLS Patkar & V.P. Varde College S.V. Road, Goregaon (W) Mumbai 400 104 (through its Principal) Email: [email protected] ....Respondents ---- Gauri Gaekwad 1 of 12 902.WP-1185-2023.odt Mr. Suresh Pakale, Senior Advocate a/w. Mr. Saurabh Pakale, Mr. Nilesh Desai i/b. Ms. Padmaja Malgaonkar for the Petitioner. Mr. Himanshu B. Takke, AGP for the Respondent/State. ---- CORAM : RAVINDRA V. GHUGE & ABHAY J. MANTRI, JJ. DATE : 30th JANUARY, 2026 ORAL JUDGMENT (PER : RAVINDRA V. GHUGE, J.) 1. Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith and heard finally by the consent of the parties. 2. The learned Senior Advocate for the Petitioner places on record a photostat copy of the communication dated 30th January, 2026, received by the Petitioner and the briefing Advocate from Professor Dr. Gautam Sonkamble, In-charge Principal of Sir Sitaram and Lady Sh