Prakashjhot Samajik Sanstha Thr. Its President Vikas Parshuram Patil v. Union Of India Thr. The Secretary Ministry Of Civil Aviation And ORS

BDP

19. PIL-108-2025

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION (PIL) NO. 108 OF 2025 Prakashjhot Samajik Sanstha A registered association, Through its President, Vikas Parshuram Patil ....Petitioner.

V/s.

Union of India and Others .... Respondents.

Mr. Ranjeet Unnikrishnan Nair, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. O.A. Chandurkar, Addl. G.P. with Mrs. M.P. Thakur, AGP for the respondent no.2.

CORAM : SHREE CHANDRASHEKHAR, CJ & GAUTAM A. ANKHAD, J.

DATE : 4th NOVEMBER 2025.

P.C. :

By this petition labeled as Public Interest Litigation, the petitioner - Sanstha which claims that it is a registered association having registration no. Reg. Maha/1912/16/Thane and its President, namely, Vikas Parshuram Patil is engaged in business, makes the following prayers :

"a. Issue a Writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate Writ, Order or Direction, directing Respondent No.1 (Union of India), specifically the Ministry of Civil Aviation, to take an expeditious and time-bound decision on the proposal forwarded by the State of Maharashtra regarding the naming of the Navi Mumbai International Airport as 'Lokneta D.B. Patil Navi Mumbai International Airport'.

b. Issue any other appropriate Writ, Order, or Direction as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case, and in the interest of justice."

BDP

19. PIL-108-2025

2. The petitioner-Sanstha states that this petition has been filed in public interest and the issue raised by it in the present petition was never dealt with or decided in any other similar petition. According to the petitioner-Sanstha, there is widespread demand to rename the Navi Mumbai International Airport in the name of Lokneta D.B. Patil who was highly influential and a respected leader in the State of Maharashtra.

3.

Mr. Ranjeet Unnikrishnan Nair, the learned counsel for the petitioner states that the purpose behind filing of this Public Interest Litigation is to avoid future unrest in the city of Mumbai. 4.

To begin with, we would indicate that a writ Court exercising the jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India shall have no powers to issue a direction to the Ministry of Civil Aviation to accept the proposal moved by the State of Maharashtra. As understood in legal parlance, a proposal is only an expression of intention and a decision thereon can be taken as per the rules, regulations and statutory provisions. This petition seeking mandamus to the Ministry of Civil Aviation does not lie also for the reason that the petitioner-Sanstha has failed to demonstrate that it has legally enforceable right in law and the corresponding duty upon the respondents are not being discharged by them.

5. Public Interest Litigation No.108 of 2025 is dismissed. [GAUTAM A. ANKHAD, J.] [CHIEF JUSTICE] BHARAT DASHARATH PANDIT BHARAT DASHARATH PANDIT Date: 2025.11.11 15:11:07 +0530