Bombay High CourtCP/393/2025disposed off

Suresh Gangaram Sathe v. Mahesh J. Chothe And ANR.

2025-07-02Hon'Ble Shri Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge , Hon'Ble Shri Justice M. M. Sathaye6 pages

Digitally signed by GAURI AMIT GAEKWAD Date:

2025.07.04 11:59:00 +0530 GAURI AMIT GAEKWAD

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

(910) CONTEMPT PETITION NO.389 OF 2025 WRIT PETITION NO.15800 OF 2023 Sulekha Dhananjay Pujari Sachin Jagtap Education Officer and Ors.

(911) CONTEMPT PETITION NO.390 OF 2025 WRIT PETITION NO.15797 OF 2023 Shrikant Pandurang Patil Eknath S. Ambokar Education Officer and Ors.

(912) CONTEMPT PETITION NO.391 OF 2025 WRIT PETITION NO.15801 OF 2023 Sujata Dhanaji Shewade @ Sujata Hambirrao Dhanawade Eknath S. Ambokar Education Officer and Ors.

(913) CONTEMPT PETITION NO.392 OF 2025 WRIT PETITION NO.15798 OF 2023 Vijaykumar Bhimrao Kumbhar and Ors.

....Petitioners Eknath S. Ambokar Education Officer and Ors.

(914) CONTEMPT PETITION NO.393 OF 2025

WRIT PETITION NO.15803 OF 2023 Suresh Gangaram Sathe Mahesh J. Chothe and Anr.

(915) CONTEMPT PETITION NO.394 OF 2025 WRIT PETITION NO.12916 OF 2023 Jayakar Anandrao Jadhav Mahesh J. Chothe and Anr.

(916) CONTEMPT PETITION NO.395 OF 2025 WRIT PETITION NO.8416 OF 2024 Jitendra Ganpatrao Kulkarni Eknath S. Ambokar Education Officer and Ors.

(921) CONTEMPT PETITION NO.402 OF 2025 WRIT PETITION NO.15799 OF 2023 Nagendra S/o. Mahadev Kamble Eknath S. Ambokar Education Officer and Ors.

(922) CONTEMPT PETITION NO.403 OF 2025 WRIT PETITION NO.15794 OF 2023 Kishor Maruti Musale and Ors.

....Petitioners Eknath S. Ambokar Education Officer and Ors.

(923) CONTEMPT PETITION NO.422 OF 2025 WRIT PETITION NO.12907 OF 2023 Sharayu Shankar Mohite Mahesh J. Chothe and Anr.

(924) CONTEMPT PETITION NO.423 OF 2025 WRIT PETITION NO.12901 OF 2023 Bhanudas Bhagwan Patil Mahesh J. Chothe and Anr.

(925) CONTEMPT PETITION NO.424 OF 2025 WRIT PETITION NO.12903 OF 2023 Suhas Tanaji Jagatap Mahesh J. Chothe and Anr.

---- Mr. Arvind G. Ambetkar for the Petitioners in all Petitions. Mr. V.M. Mali, AGP for the Respondent - State in CP/389/2025 and CP/402/2025.

Mr. S.L. Babar, AGP for the Respondent - State in CP/390/2025. Mrs. N.M. Mehra, AGP for the Respondent - State in CP/391/2025 and CP/392/2025.

Mr. S.B. Kalel, AGP for the Respondent - State in CP/393/2025 and CP/403/2025.

Ms. P.N. Diwan, AGP for the Respondent - State in CP/394/2025. Mr. N.C. Walimbe, Addl. GP a/w. Mr. A.K. Naik, AGP for the Respondent - State in CP/395/2025.

Mr. P.P. Kakade, Addl. GP a/w. Ms. Priyanka Chavan, AGP for the Respondent - State in CP/422/2025, CP/423/2025 and CP/424/2025.

---- CORAM : RAVINDRA V. GHUGE & M.M. SATHAYE, JJ.

DATE : 2nd JULY, 2025

P.C. :- 1.

In all these matters, the learned Addl. GPs and AGPs have been, subsequently, instructed to state that the directions of the Writ Court in the order dated 20th December, 2023 delivered in Writ Petition No.12872 of 2023 would be complied with within 60 days from today and latest by 31st August, 2025.

The learned Advocate for the Petitioners submits that the statements of the learned Addl. GPs and AGPs may be recorded and the name of the persons passing on the instructions may also be mentioned in the order since, it is his experience that in some cases, he was required to file a second Contempt Petition. 3.

The learned Addl. GPs and AGPs submit that they have received written instructions, dated 1st/2nd July, 2025, from the following authorities :

Writ Petition No.

Name of the Authority CP/389/2025 Mr. Sachin Jagtap Education Officer (Secondary) Zilla Parishad, Solapur CP/390/2025 Mrs. Suvarna Shivaji Sawant Education Officer (Secondary) Zilla Parishad, Kolhapur CP/391/2025 Mrs. Suvarna Shivaji Sawant Education Officer (Secondary) Zilla Parishad, Kolhapur

CP/392/2025 Mrs. Suvarna Shivaji Sawant Education Officer (Secondary) Zilla Parishad, Kolhapur CP/393/2025 Mr. Mahesh J. Chothe Deputy Director of Education Kolhapur Region, Kolhapur CP/394/2025 Mr. Mahesh J. Chothe Deputy Director of Education Kolhapur Region, Kolhapur CP/395/2025 Mrs. Suvarna Shivaji Sawant Education Officer (Secondary) Zilla Parishad, Kolhapur CP/402/2025 Mrs. Suvarna Shivaji Sawant Education Officer (Secondary) Zilla Parishad, Kolhapur CP/403/2025 Mrs. Suvarna Shivaji Sawant Education Officer (Secondary) Zilla Parishad, Kolhapur CP/422/2025 Mr. Rajesaheb Londhe Education Officer (Secondary) Zilla Parishad, Sangli CP/423/2025 Mr. Rajesaheb Londhe Education Officer (Secondary) Zilla Parishad, Sangli CP/424/2025 Mr. Rajesaheb Londhe Education Officer (Secondary) Zilla Parishad, Sangli All the aforesaid officers have made a statement that by 31st August, 2025, the Writ directions would be complied with. In the written communications to the learned Addl. GPs and AGPs, each of these officers has tendered an apology.

The learned Advocate for the Petitioner submits that though the aforesaid officers are now belatedly obeying the order of this Court, as a good gesture on the part of the Petitioners, since they do not intend to enter into confrontation with any officer, the Contempt Petitions may be disposed off, by treating that the contempt is purged. However, if in any matter, the Petitioner has to once again file a second Contempt Petition, it may be treated as aggravated contempt.

In view of the above statements, these Petitions are disposed off by recording that the contempt is purged. 6.

Needless to state, if the aforesaid statements made to the Court are not truthfully followed and if the Petitioners are compelled to file the second Contempt Petition, the said act of the Authority would be treated as aggravated contempt and in which case, we would not entertain any apology from any of these persons. (M.M. SATHAYE, J.) (RAVINDRA V. GHUGE, J.)