Ravindra Gokul Chaudhari v. Vijay Waghmare (Secretary, Tribal Development Department

by ARUNA SANDEEP TALWALKAR Date:

2025.11.13 19:16:29 +0530 ARUNA SANDEEP TALWALKAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION (Sr. No. 913) CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 544 OF 2025 IN WRIT PETITION NO. 2561 OF 2020 Mr. Hiralal Jagannath Bawa & Ors.

... Petitioners.

V/s.

The Commissioner, Smt. Leena Bansod & Ors.

... Respondents.

WITH (Sr. No. 915) CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 636 OF 2025 IN WRIT PETITION NO. 3020 OF 2021 Ravindra Gokul Chaudhari & Ors.

... Petitioners.

V/s.

Vijay Waghmare, Secretary, Tribal Development Department & Ors.

... Respondents.

--- Mr. Pratik B. Rahade, Advocate for Petitioners in CP/544/2025. Ms. Rishika Agarwal, Advocate for Petitioners in CP/636/2025. Mrs. Reena Salunke, AGP for Respondent/State in CP/544/2025. Mr. Karan Thorat, B-Panel Advocate for Respondent/State in CP/636/2025.

--- CORAM :

RAVINDRA V. GHUGE AND ASHWIN D. BHOBE, JJ.

DATE :

12th NOVEMBER, 2025

P.C. :

1.

We have perused the order passed by the Writ Bench dated 27th March, 2024 in the concerned two Writ Petitions. Six months' time was granted to the Tribal Development Department to finalise the Rules and Regulations for the purpose of determining the seniority to the post of Principal on the Junior Colleges, within 6 months. The responsibility to ensure compliance of this order was placed on the shoulders of the Secretary, Tribal Development Department, State of Maharashtra. 2.

A period of 20 months has lapsed. The Rules and Regulations have still not been introduced. Shri Vijay Waghmare is presently the Secretary of the Adiwasi Vikas Division (Tribal Development Department).

3.

The learned AGP submits on instructions that 3 months' time is required to introduce the said Rules/Regulations. 4.

The learned Advocate for the Petitioners submit in all fairness, that they are not interested in ensuring punishment to any officer. They desire that the order of this Court should be implemented. They submit that, as a last chance, time may be extended and if the

Department does not act within the extended time line, the conduct be treated as aggravated contempt.

5.

In view of the above, we grant time to the concerned Department upto 15th March, 2026. If our directions are not complied with in letters and spirit within the time line, we would place the responsibility on Shri Vijay Waghmare, the Secretary of the Department for aggravated contempt.

6.

With the above observations, these two Petitions are disposed off.

(ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.) (RAVINDRA V. GHUGE, J.)