Overview
- The High Court on March 25 stayed the March 13 suspension and directed the Shivpuri District Education Officer to issue a fresh, reasoned decision under the state’s 2005 safeguards.
- Justice Ashish Shroti found the action was taken in haste after BJP MLA Pritam Lodhi’s complaint and showed no independent assessment or plan for an inquiry.
- The case followed teacher Saket Kumar Purohit’s March 12 Facebook video about LPG prices, after which the MLA wrote to the department and the DEO suspended him the same day.
- State counsel said suspension is only a temporary administrative step, yet the court held such orders remain open to review when they are arbitrary or show no application of mind.
- The order stresses that suspension should be reserved for matters likely to attract a major penalty and may deter politically influenced discipline of government employees.