Bombay High Court reinstates RTO transfers in Maharashtra

The Bombay High Court's Aurangabad bench recently supported a ruling from the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal. The tribunal had canceled the state government's decision to change the postings of regional transport officers (RTOs) in Pune and Chandrapur. The original promotions were decided on March 16, 2024. Archana Gaikwad was appointed as RTO in Chandrapur, while Shyam Lohi became RTO in Pune. However, after elections, the government changed these postings on June 13, 2024, swapping Gaikwad and Lohi's positions. The tribunal found that the state did not provide reasons for this change, which led to the court's decision. The court noted that Gaikwad had previously requested a transfer to Pune or Pimpri Chinchwad due to family health issues. Despite these requests, the state initially transferred her to Chandrapur. The court criticized the state for not explaining why the postings were altered just days after the election code of conduct ended. They emphasized that the state had already considered Gaikwad's situation before the initial transfer order. The state defended its actions, claiming it had the authority to modify postings without specific reasons. Lawyers for Lohi argued that the tribunal's ruling was correct, while Gaikwad's side maintained that her needs were appropriately considered. The high court has put the tribunal's decision on hold for four weeks, allowing the petitioners the opportunity to appeal to the Supreme Court.