Madan Mohan Lal Chhabra v. State Of Maharashtra
Digitally signed by RUSHIKESH VISHNU PATIL Date:
2025.10.16 18:55:36 +0530 RUSHIKESH VISHNU PATIL
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 3848 OF 2025 Madan Mohan Lal Chhabra & Ors.
...Petitioners
Versus
State of Maharashtra & Ors.
...Respondents
Adv. Lopa Munmin i/b Mr. Vivek Sawant, for the Petitioners. Ms Anupamaa Pawar, AGP, for Respondent Nos. 1 and 2- State. Mr. Yogendra M. Kanchan a/w Mr. Sandeep Chopra, for Respondent No. 3.
CORAM:
SUMAN SHYAM & MANJUSHA DESHPANDE, JJ.
DATED:
15th OCTOBER 2025.
PC:- 1.
The Petitioners herein had lodged a complaint dated 10th October 2024 before Respondent No. 2 herein, making certain allegations against Respondent No. 3-Society and its office bearers. The grievance of the Petitioners is that, despite the lapse of more than a year from the filing of the complaint, no final order has been passed by the Respondent No. 2 in the matter till date. Taking note of such grievance expressed by the Writ Petitioners, this Court had passed an order dated 3rd October 2025, requiring the learned AGP appearing for the State/Respondent Nos. 1 and 2 to obtain instructions and file a reply by 13th October 2025. 2.
Today, when the matter is called out, Ms. Pawar, learned AGP for the State submits that the copy of the reply had been
served upon the Petitioners' counsel yesterday, with the delay of one day. By tendering the copy of the reply before the Court today, the learned AGP seeks condonation of the delay of one day in filing the reply and also to take the same on record. Since such prayer is not opposed by the Petitioners' counsel, the same stands allowed. The reply is taken on record.
3.
After going through the reply, we find that several steps have already been taken by Respondent No. 2 for passing appropriate orders in the matter, including calling for an explanation from the office bearers of Respondent No. 3-Society. It appears that the matter was taken up even yesterday, i.e., on 14th October 2025, for hearing submissions of both the sides and, thereafter, the matter has been reportedly fixed again on 4th November 2025 for further hearing.
4.
From the above, it is clear that Respondent No. 2 is in the process of passing a final order in the matter, which arises out of the complaint dated 10th October 2024.
5.
This Court appreciates the anxiety of the Petitioners due to the delay in passing a final order in the matter. However, it cannot be ignored that if the Administrative Authority is to pass an order, which could be adverse to the interest of one of the parties, proper opportunity of hearing, in compliance with the principles of natural justice, must be given to all the parties. Therefore, we do not intend to make any further comment in this case today, save and except observing that a final order may be passed in the matter by Respondent No. 2 as expeditiously as possible and copy thereof be also furnished to the interested parties.
6.
List the matter again on 10th November 2025, on which date the learned AGP is to produce copy of the order, if any, passed by Respondent No. 2 in the matter. If no order is passed by that date, for any reason whatsoever, the reason for not doing so shall be intimated to this Court by the learned AGP.
(MANJUSHA DESHPANDE, J.) (SUMAN SHYAM, J.) {