The gazetted education officers of Maharashtra have declared an indefinite strike, set to commence on January 19, in a dramatic escalation of their protest against the arrest of colleagues in connection with the multi-crore Shalarth ID scam. The officers' body has accused the state government of fostering an "atmosphere of arrest, interrogation, and intimidation" that they claim is damaging democratic values and paralyzing administrative work.
Association Takes a Stand Against 'Unjust' Arrest
The All Maharashtra Education Service Gazetted Officers Association made the strike announcement on Thursday, following the arrest of Yavatmal education officer Ravindra Katolkar on December 22, 2025. The association has written a strongly-worded letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the deputy chief ministers, and the school education and sports minister, formally objecting to the action.
The letter reveals that a delegation from the association had met with the education minister and education secretary back in August 2025. During that meeting, they were reportedly given assurances that no officer would be arrested without a proper investigation. The arrest of Katolkar, therefore, is seen as a breach of that promise. The association argues that Katolkar, as the Education Officer (Primary and Secondary), was arrested merely for signing a consolidated salary payment—a task they claim is outside his direct purview as he lacks authority to process salaries or access the Shalarth login IDs.
Understanding the Shalarth ID Scam
The protest stems from the alleged Shalarth ID scam, a major financial scandal currently under investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT). According to the probe, the scam involved the fraudulent recruitment of over 500 teachers, bypassing established rules and siphoning off funds exceeding Rs 100 crore.
Shalarth is a centralized online platform used by the Maharashtra government for critical functions like teacher recruitment, payroll management, and related administrative tasks. A pivotal change occurred in 2019 when the authority to issue Shalarth IDs was transferred from the state Education Ministry to deputy directors of education at the divisional level. The SIT alleges that some of these deputy directors exploited this shift, forging documents to create fake Shalarth IDs and appoint ineligible candidates as teachers. By August 2025, the investigation had already led to the arrest of at least 16 individuals, including officers, school principals, and heads of institutions.
Wider Implications and a Call to Halt
The officers' association contends that the current investigative approach is creating a climate of fear that is "very regrettable and detrimental to democratic values." They argue that the blanket intimidation is hindering the normal functioning of the education department, as officers are now working under the constant threat of arrest for routine administrative actions.
By calling for the strike, the association is applying direct pressure on the state government to reconsider its method of investigation into the scam. They are demanding a fair process that does not victimize officers for performing their mandated duties. The strike, starting January 19, threatens to disrupt the administrative backbone of Maharashtra's sprawling school education system, bringing the conflict between the bureaucracy and the investigating agencies into the public spotlight.
The ball is now in the court of the Chief Minister's office and the education department to respond to these serious allegations and find a resolution before the strike cripples educational administration across the state.
