The State Of Maharashtra Thr The Secretary v. Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation And ORS
PMB
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION Digitally signed by PRADNYA MAKARAND BHOGALE Date:
2022.03.23 19:15:20 +0530 PRADNYA MAKARAND BHOGALE WRIT PETITION ST. NO. 21699 OF 2021 Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation ..Petitioner vs.
Sangharsh ST Kargar Sanghatan and ors. ..Respondents WITH INTERIM APPLICATION NO. 1686 OF 2022 IN WRIT PETITION ST. NO. 21699 OF 2021 The State of Maharashtra ..Applicant
IN THE MATTER BETWEEN
Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation ..Petitioner vs.
Sangharsh ST Kargar Sanghatana and ors. ..Respondents WITH INTERIM APPLICATION NO. 906 OF 2022 IN WRIT PETITION ST. NO. 21699 OF 2021 Pandurang Baburav Mhatre ..Applicant
IN THE MATTER BETWEEN
Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation ..Petitioner vs.
Sangharsh ST Kamgar Sanghatana and ors. ..Respondents WITH INTERIM APPLICATION NO. 4249 OF 2021 IN WRIT PETITION ST. NO. 21699 OF 2021 Manohar Anand Helgaonkar and ors.
..Applicants
IN THE MATTER BETWEEN
Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation ..Petitioner vs.
Sangharsh ST Kamgar Sanghatana and ors. ..Respondents
WITH CONTEMPT PETITION ST. NO. 21758 OF 2021 Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation ..Petitioner vs.
The State of Maharashtra and ors.
..Respondents -------- Mr. G.S. Hegde i/b. Ms. Pinky M. Bhansali for petitioner. Dr. Gunaratan Sadavarte a/w Dr. Jaishree Patil a/w Mr. Vishal Jadhav a/s Mr. Pradeep Jha a/w Mr. Gurunath Aire a/w Mr. Sandeep Gaikwad for respondents and for applicant in IA/4249/2021.
Mr. Yogendra Pendse for respondent no. 2.
Mr. Shailesh C. Naidu, Special Counsel a/w Mr. P.P. Kakade, Government Pleader a/w Mr. B.V. Samant, AGP for Staterespondent no. 3 and for applicant in IA/1686/2022. Mrs. Rajashree Kale, Master and Asst. Prothonotary (Judicial), High Court, Original Side present.
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CORAM:
DIPANKAR DATTA, CJ & M. S. KARNIK, J.
DATE:
MARCH 22, 2022 P.C.:
1.
Interim Application No. 1686 of 2022 is at the instance of the State of Maharashtra, respondent no. 3 in Writ Petition Stamp No. 21699 of 2021, seeking extension of 15 days' time to file the requisite affidavit in terms of the order dated March 11, 2022 passed by us. The order dated March 11, 2022 after referring to the submission of Mr. Naidu, special counsel appearing for the State that the competent authority has been looking into the report of the 3 (three) member Committee constituted by this Court, by its order dated November 8, 2021, and that a decision on acceptance or otherwise of such
report is likely to be taken within a short period of time, required an affidavit to be filed to place on record the ultimate decision. It is pleaded in the application that necessary submissions are in the process of being made before the Cabinet in respect of the recommendation of the committee and extension may be granted to finalize the decision of the Cabinet on such committee report.
2.
The application was filed on March 17, 2022 and 5 (five) days have passed since. Therefore, instead of extending the time by 15 days, as prayed, we extend the time for filing the requisite affidavit by April 1, 2022. The application stands disposed of. No costs.
3.
Copy of the affidavit must, however, be circulated to the parties.
4.
The writ petition along with any pending application shall be listed on April 5, 2022 (First on Board).
5.
It is submitted before us on behalf of the employees of the petitioning Corporation by Dr. Gunaratan Sadavarte, learned advocate, that despite number of employees having succumbed to Covid-19, no compensation has been paid. It is asserted that around 350 applications have been submitted for ex-gratia compensation.
6.
Mr. Naidu assures this Court that once photocopies of the applications filed by the employees are provided to the Government Pleader's office by Thursday (March 24, 2022), steps to disburse compensation to the deserving applicant would be expedited.
7.
We have no doubt that the State shall proceed in terms of the assurance of Mr. Naidu and disburse the compensation in accordance with law to such of the applicants who are found to be eligible therefor in terms of the relevant scheme. (M. S. KARNIK, J.) (CHIEF JUSTICE)