Maharashtra Relieves 625 Employees Over Irregular Appointments

The Maharashtra government has relieved 625 employees working in ministers' offices due to irregular appointments. These employees, including private secretaries, special duty officers, and peons, were appointed without approval from the Chief Minister's Secretariat.

The General Administration Department (GAD) issued a circular on August 25, 2026, directing that such employees be sent back to their original departments. The circular stated that there is no provision in the service rules for appointing employees to ministers' offices through informal arrangements.

The issue came to the attention of the Chief Secretary after it was observed that a large number of employees were serving in ministerial offices through unauthorized arrangements, affecting the functioning of their parent departments. The GAD instructed the concerned offices to repatriate such employees by September 10, 2026, and submit compliance reports.

On Thursday, various ministerial offices informed the GAD that around 625 employees had been relieved and sent back to their parent departments. The process of collecting their Mantralaya entry identity cards and disabling their facial-recognition access has also begun.

The action has highlighted a significant gap between sanctioned and actual staffing in ministers' offices. The government has sanctioned 904 posts for the Chief Minister's Secretariat and the offices of ministers and ministers of state. However, only 549 posts have been filled, while 355 remain vacant.

The latest action indicates that more than 625 additional personnel had been accommodated beyond the sanctioned positions through irregular arrangements. The GAD had also sought reports from the offices of the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministers regarding employees appointed on deputation or through oral orders.

Reports from the offices of Forest Minister Ganesh Naik and School Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse were also reportedly awaited. The GAD is yet to receive reports from these offices, despite the deadline having passed.

The government resolution dated January 14, 2025, sanctions 164 posts for the Chief Minister's Secretariat, 72 for the Deputy Chief Minister's office, and 16 and 14 posts respectively for the offices of ministers and ministers of state.

The relief of 625 employees is a significant step towards streamlining the functioning of ministers' offices in Maharashtra. It is expected to improve the efficiency and transparency of the government's administrative processes.

The action taken by the Maharashtra government is a clear indication of its commitment to upholding the rules and regulations governing the appointment of employees in ministers' offices. It is likely to have a positive impact on the overall functioning of the government and its ability to deliver services to the people of Maharashtra.

In conclusion, the relief of 625 employees from ministers' offices in Maharashtra is a significant development that highlights the need for transparency and accountability in government appointments. It is a step towards ensuring that the government's administrative processes are fair, efficient, and effective.