Chintaman Ramchandra Kini And ORS v. The Competent Authority And Sub-Divisional Officer Vasai And ANR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 15379 OF 2023 Suman Govind Kudu and others ...

Petitioners vs.

The Competent Authority and Sub-Divisional Officer, Vasai and another ...

Respondents WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 11728 OF 2024 WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 11726 OF 2024 WITH CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 25 OF 2026 IN WRIT PETITION NO. 11726 OF 2024 WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 3058 OF 2025 WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 3060 OF 2025 WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 3056 OF 2025 WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 3061 OF 2025 WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 3062 OF 2025 WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 3063 OF 2025 WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 3059 OF 2025 WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 3057 OF 2025 WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 3055 OF 2025 WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 15383 OF 2023 WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 15380 OF 2023 WITH by PRIYA KAMBLI Date:

2026.02.18 17:51:26 +0530 PRIYA KAMBLI 1/3

CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 27 OF 2026 IN WRIT PETITION NO. 15380 OF 2023 WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 15381 OF 2023 WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 15382 OF 2023 WITH CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 26 OF 2026 IN WRIT PETITION NO. 15382 OF 2023 Mr. Anil D'souza a/w. Ernest Tuscano, Mr. Mark Dbritto, Mr. Yogesh Rawool, Mr. Nitin Bhoir and Ms. Nidhi Gupta, i/b. Mr. Shailesh S. Redekar for petitioners in all petitions.

Mr. Anil D'souza a/w. Ernest Tuscano, Mr. Mark Dbritto, Mr. Yogesh Rawool, Mr. Shailesh S. Redekar, Mr. Nitin Bhoir and Ms. Nidhi Gupta, i/b. Vidhisha Legal for petitioners in all contempt petitions. Mr. B. V. Samant, Addl. GP a/w. Mr. R. S. Pawar, AGP for respondent No.1State. Mr. Rakesh L. Singh, i/b. M. V. Kini & Co. for respondent No.2-NHAI. CORAM : MANISH PITALE & SHREERAM V. SHIRSAT, JJ DATE :

18th FEBRUARY, 2026 P.C. :

.

The learned counsel for the petitioners is at pains to point out that positive directions issued in the order dated 21.03.2025 passed by a co-ordinate Bench of this Court, laying down specific timelines for compliance by the respondents, have not been complied with till date. Attention of this Court is also invited to a subsequent order dated 24.07.2025 passed by another co-ordinate Bench of this Court, wherein further time of three weeks was granted to the respondents to complete the entire exercise.

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2.

We find that almost a year has gone by and the respondents have still not shown compliance. The only explanation given by the learned Addl. GP and the learned counsel appearing for the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is that the said respondents have been exchanging communications and that the respondent No.2-NHAI is yet to arrange for funds for disbursal of amounts, to which the petitioners have been found entitled, as per order dated 21.03.2025 passed by this Court in these petitions. 3.

It is unfortunate that the respondents are not taking seriously, the orders passed by this Court and only paper horses are being run from one office to another in a typical show of bureaucratic intransigence.

4.

In view of the above, the respondents are granted further time of three weeks to comply with the order dated 21.03.2025 passed by this Court in these petitions.

5.

List the petitions on 11.03.2026, under the caption 'for directions'. It is made clear that if there is non-compliance on the part of the respondents, the Sub-Divisional Officer, Vasai, representing respondent No.1 and the Project Director, NHAI, Thane, representing respondent No.2, shall remain personally present in this Court on the next date of listing.

(SHREERAM V. SHIRSAT, J) (MANISH PITALE, J.) Priya Kambli 3/3