Koti Vidya Charitable Trust Thr Its Chairman v. Gram Panchayat Sapgaon Thr Its Sarpanch And ORS

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

by GAURI AMIT GAEKWAD Date:

2025.11.11 12:26:24 +0530 GAURI AMIT GAEKWAD CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO.15120 OF 2025 Koti Vidya Charitable Trust ....Petitioner

Versus

Gram Panchayat Sapgaon & Ors.

....Respondents ---- Mr. Shekhar Jagtap a/w. Ms. Sairuchita Chowdhary i/b. J. Shekhar Associates for the Petitioner.

Mrs. Nisha Mehra, AGP for Respondent Nos.5 and 6. ---- CORAM : RAVINDRA V. GHUGE & ASHWIN D. BHOBE, JJ.

DATE : 7th NOVEMBER, 2025 P.C. :- 1.

The learned Advocate for the Petitioner mentioned this Petition at 11:00 a.m., citing grave urgency. The manner in which the urgency was expressed, impressed us to list this Petition on the production board.

2.

When the matter was called out after the lunch recess, we found that the notice sought to be assailed, is dated 6th June, 2025. Subsequent reminders calling upon the Petitioner to deposit the property tax bill (घरपट्टी कर बि ल), have also been placed on record. The Petitioner has received a communication dated 1st September, 2025, signed by Ramdas Govind Bhande on the page on

which the text of the letter appears. Seven more persons have signed on a separate sheet accompanying the said communication. Both these are at page nos.78 and 79 of the Petition Paper Book. The Petitioner now contends that the house property tax bill raised by the Gram Sevak, dated 6th June, 2025, is a fictitious bill. The Petitioner has not received any notice from the Gram Panchayat, Sapgaon, regarding any coercive step being initiated against the Petitioner for recovery of the purported house property tax bill. 3.

Issue notice to the Respondents, returnable on 16th December, 2025. The learned AGP waives service of notice on behalf of Respondent Nos.5 and 6.

4.

Let the Respondents file their affidavits in reply at least one week prior to the returnable date.

5.

In the event of any grave urgency, the Petitioner will be at liberty to circulate this matter, citing urgency, with at least 24 hours' notice to the Gram Panchayat and the State. 6.

At the request of the learned Advocate for the Petitioner, we record that if any steps are initiated for recovery of

dues from the Petitioner, or if there is any attachment of property, the same shall be subject to the result of this Petition. (ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.) (RAVINDRA V. GHUGE, J.)