Pushpawati Gajanan Awate v. The State Of Maharashtra Through The Secretary And ORS

Digitally signed by KAWRE KIRAN KALYAN Date:

2025.07.22 12:47:53 +0530 KAWRE KIRAN KALYAN 302-WP-248-2024.DOC

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 248 OF 2025 Pushpawati Gajanan Awate

...Petitioner

Versus

The State of Maharashtra & Ors.

...Respondents

_______ Mr. Manjunath K. a/w Gurubala Birajdar for Petitioner. Ms. S. A. Prabhune, AGP for State.

_______

CORAM:

G. S. KULKARNI & ARIF S. DOCTOR, JJ.

DATE:

09 JULY 2025 P.C.

1. The only prayer as made by the petitioner is that the petitioner's dispute application filed under Sections 14(b) and 13(b) read with Section 16 of The Maharashtra Village Panchayats Act, 1959 challenging the election of the respondent Nos.3 to 9 be taken up by the Collector, Solapur and decided expeditiously. Such application was filed by the petitioner on 3 September 2024, and the same has remained pending consideration. Although, the respondent Nos.3 to 9 are not represented, considering the nature of the order we intend to pass, we are of the opinion that no prejudice would be caused to respondent No.9, if we only direct the Competent Authority, namely, the Collector, Solapur to decide the petitioner's application in accordance with law, wherein the private respondents can raise all their contentions.

2. We accordingly dispose of this petition in terms of the following order: 09 July 2025 Kiran Kawre

302-WP-248-2024.DOC (i) The petitioner's application filed before the Collector, Solapur seeking disqualification of respondent Nos.3 to 9 be taken up for consideration as expeditiously as possible and the same be decided in accordance with law and in any event within a period of three months from the date a copy of this order is presented before the Collector.

3. All contentions of the petitioner as also of respondent Nos.3 to 9 are expressly kept open to be urged in the said proceedings.

4. Disposed of in the aforesaid terms. No costs.

5. Parties to act on authenticated copy of this order. (ARIF S. DOCTOR, J.) (G. S. KULKARNI, J.) 09 July 2025 Kiran Kawre