Rahul S/O Pundalik Janwe v. State Of Maharashtra, Thr. Secretary, Ministry Of Urban Development, Mumbai And Others

2025:BHC-NAG:13251-DB

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

NAGPUR BENCH : NAGPUR PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION NO. 64 OF 2024 Rahul Pundlik Janwe Vs State of Maharashtra and others. Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Court's or Judge's Order Coram, appearances, Court's Orders or directions and Registrar's order Mr. P.J. Vairagade, counsel for petitioner.

Mr. N.S.Rao, AGP for respondent Nos. 1 and 3. Mr. M.I. Dhatrak, counsel for respondent No.2. Mr. S.S. Paliwal, counsel for respondent No.4.

CORAM

: ANIL S. KILOR and RAJNISH R. VYAS, JJ.

DATE : 27/11/2025 1.

Heard learned counsel for respective parties. 2.

In the present petition, the following prayers are made:- i) Be pleased to appoint an independent person who shall conduct the independent inquiry in the matter and file the report before this Hon'ble Court in respect of illegality and irregularity going on in the affairs of the respondent No.2, Chief Officer, Municipal Council, Warora, District Chandrapur; ii) Further be pleased to after perusal of the said report be pleased to take necessary action against the respondent no.2 Chief Officer, Municipal Council, Warora, District Chandrapur and Respondent no.4 K.G.N. Caterers and traders; iii) Further be pleased to direct the respondent no.2 Chief Officer, Municipal Council, Warora, District Chandrapur to comply all the provisions of law by paying the minimum wages to the workers, by paying the contribution in the EPF, Gratuity, ESIC and other statutory contribution;

iv) Further be pleased to direct the respondent no.2 Chief Officer, Municipal Council, Warora District Chandrapur to provide for the safety equipment's for the contract labours working under him on the basis of the contract executed between the respondent 2 Chief Officer, Municipal Council Warora, District Chandrapur and respondent 4 K.G.N. Caterers and traders;

v) Direct the respondent No.2, Chief Officer, Municipal Council, Warora, District Chandrapur to pay the minimum wages as well as contribute to the Employers Provident Fund and the Employers State Insurance for the labourers from the date of their employment;

vi) Direct an enquiry into the accounts and audit reports maintained by the respondent No.4 in relation to the payments made by the respondent No.4 to the respondent No.2; vii) Grant any other relief which this Hon'ble Court deems fit in the interest of justice.

viii) Allow the present petition, in the interest of justice." 3.

On a specific query put to the learned counsel for the petitioner regarding what public interest is involved in this petition, the petitioner submits that the people of Warora are suffering because of the absence of waste management by the respondent authority. However, none of the prayers seeks any direction to the authorities in respect of waste management.

4.

If the pleadings made in the petition are examined, it appears that personal interest is involved, as the grievance mainly concerns the continuation of the contract of respondent No. 4. If there are any irregularities in the continuation of the contract of respondent No. 4 by the Municipal Council, Warora, the petitioner has a separate remedy. 5.

In the absence of a single pleading to show how the people of Warora are facing any problem because of waste management, we do not find any public interest involved in the present petition. 6.

Accordingly, the public interest litigation is dismissed. ( RAJNISH R. VYAS, J.) (ANIL S. KILOR, J.)