Gautam Govind Landegaonkar (Kamble) v. The State Of Maharashtra And Others

2025:BHC-AUG:18388-DB 944.WP.8024.2025.doc

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

BENCH AT AURANGABAD WRIT PETITION NO. 8024 OF 2025 Gautam Govind Landegaonkar (Kamble)

...Petitioner

Versus

The State of Maharashtra & Ors.

...Respondents

***  Mr. Vishwamber Digamberrao Gunale, for Petitioner.  Ms. S. S. Joshi, AGP for Respondent.

*** CORAM : MANISH PITALE AND Y. G. KHOBRAGADE, JJ.

DATE : 15th JULY 2025.

ORAL ORDER (PER - MANISH PITALE, J.) 1.

The petitioner has approached this Court aggrieved by the inaction of respondent No.2 - Collector in deciding application filed by the petitioner as far back as on 01st February 2023, seeking disqualification of respondent No.3 (Sarpanch) under Section 14(1) (j1) and (j-3) of the Maharashtra Village Panchayats Act, 1959. 2.

It is to be noted that such an issue has to be decided under Section 16(2) of the aforesaid Act, within 60 days from the date of receipt of such an application.

3.

If the allegations made by the petitioner are correct, it appears that respondent No.2 has not only violated the statutory Shrikant Malani

944.WP.8024.2025.doc mandate, but there is recalcitrance on the part of the said respondent in deciding the pending application.

4.

Since this Court does not intend to go into the merits of the matter at all, there is no necessity to issue notice to respondent Nos.3 and 4. The respondent Nos.1 and 2 are represented by learned AGP. 5.

In view of the above, the petition is disposed of by directing the respondent No.2 - Collector to decide the application filed by the petitioner expeditiously and in any case on or before 15th September 2025.

6.

It is reiterated that this Court has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the matter.

(Y. G. KHOBRAGADE, J.) (MANISH PITALE, J.) Signed by: Shrikant Malani Designation: PA to Hon'ble Judge Date: 16/07/2025 10:52:22 Shrikant Malani