Comprehensive Policy for Adjustment of Surplus Teachers and Staff in Special Schools for Persons with Disabilities

Additional staff to be adjusted in a timely and transparent manner – Secretary Tukaram Munde

Mumbai, December 2025 : A comprehensive and unified policy has been formulated for the adjustment of surplus teaching and non-teaching staff in special schools and workshops for persons with disabilities across the state, Disability Welfare Department Secretary Tukaram Munde informed. The policy addresses situations arising due to cancellation or non-renewal of registration certificates of institutions, as well as a reduction in student strength after annual enrolment fixation, which results in staff becoming surplus.

Secretary Munde said that earlier, provisions related to staff adjustment were scattered across various government resolutions, circulars and the school code, leading to delays in the adjustment process and an increase in court cases. Taking this into account, a decision has been taken to make the adjustment process more effective through the Surplus Cadre Cell functioning under the control of the Commissioner for Disability Welfare.

To ensure that there is no disruption in the education of students with disabilities, a time-bound procedure has been prescribed for staff adjustment. This decision, he said, will make the process more transparent and help maintain continuity in education.

As per the new policy, if the recognition of a government-recognised private aided special school or workshop is cancelled and there is no stay on appeal, the Commissioner for Disability Welfare will immediately close the concerned institution. In such cases, until permanent adjustment is completed, surplus teaching and non-teaching staff will be temporarily transferred to similar institutions. For this purpose, the capacity of nearby schools will be temporarily increased.

Under the School Code, the annual enrolment fixation of students must be completed by October 15 each year. Following enrolment fixation, the list of surplus staff will be published on the department’s website in the first week of November and thereafter every month. The adjustment of surplus staff must be completed within one month, Secretary Munde said.

He further stated that staff adjustment will preferably be done within the same district, failing which in neighbouring or other districts. Employees possessing the requisite educational qualifications will be appointed to equivalent posts in the same pay scale, with priority being given to employees with disabilities. Disciplinary action will be initiated against those who fail to join duty within the prescribed time after issuance of orders.

No approval will be granted for new recruitment when surplus staff are available. Strict action will be taken under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, against institutions that refuse to accept adjusted staff or make unauthorised recruitments. The complete responsibility for ensuring timely adjustment of surplus staff in special schools and workshops under the control of the Disability Welfare Department will rest with the Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Parishad, the District Collector (Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban), and the Commissioner for Disability Welfare, Pune, Secretary Munde said.

The Disability Welfare Department has issued a government resolution in this regard, which is available on the Maharashtra Government’s official website.