Pratap Kailas Garvad And ANR v. State Of Maharashtra Thru. G P And ORS
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 672 OF 2026 Digitally signed by VINA ARVIND KHADPE Date:
2026.01.28 11:37:12 +0530 VINA ARVIND KHADPE Mr. Pratap Kailas Garvad & Anr.
....Petitioners The State of Maharashtra & Ors.
....Respondents WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 673 OF 2026 Mr. Pratap Kailas Garvad & Anr.
....Petitioners The State of Maharashtra & Ors.
....Respondents WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 674 OF 2026 Mr. Pratap Kailas Garvad & Anr.
....Petitioners The State of Maharashtra & Ors.
....Respondents WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 675 OF 2026 Mr. Pratap Kailas Garvad & Anr.
....Petitioners The State of Maharashtra & Ors.
....Respondents WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 677 OF 2026 Mr. Pratap Kailas Garvad & Anr.
....Petitioners The State of Maharashtra & Ors.
....Respondents WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 679 OF 2026
Mr. Pratap Kailas Garvad & Anr.
....Petitioners The State of Maharashtra & Ors.
....Respondents WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 683 OF 2026 Mr. Pratap Kailas Garvad & Anr.
....Petitioners The State of Maharashtra & Ors.
....Respondents ---- Mr. Himanshu Patil a/w Jagruti Nimbalkar i/b Mr. Suraj Chakor, Advocate for Petitioners.
Mr. P. P. Kakade, Add.G.P. a/w Mr. V. G. Badgujar, AGP in WP No. 672/2026.
Mr. P. G. Sawant, AGP in WP No. 673/2026.
Mrs. P. N. Diwan, AGP in WP 674/2026.
Ms. M. P. Thakur, AGP in WP No. 675/2026.
Mr. M. P. Thakur, AGP in WP No. 675/2026.
Mr. M. M. Pabale, AGP in WP No. 677/2026.
Mr. A. I. Patel, Add.GP a/w Ms. Priyanka Chavan, AGP in WP No. 679/2026.
Mr. A. S. Chandurkar, Add.G.P. a/w Mrs. Nisha Mishra AGP. ---- CORAM : RAVINDRA V. GHUGE & ABHAY J. MANTRI, JJ.
DATE : 20th JANUARY, 2026 P.C. :- 1.
We have heard the learned Advocate for the Petitioners and the learned AGP appearing on behalf of Respondent Nos. 1 and 2, the State Authorities. Considering the nature of the order that we are passing, we do not find it necessary to issue notice to Respondent Nos. 4 and 5.
2.
The Petitioners have sought disqualification of Respondent No. 5 in these seven Petitions. Section 14(h) of the Maharashtra Village Panchayat Act, 1958 mandates that the District Collector shall decide the proceedings within 60 days from the date of lodging of the dispute application. The Collector is bound by the said provision. The complaints against Respondent No. 5 in all these matters were lodged on 3rd April, 2025. A ready reference chart tendered by the learned Advocate for the Petitioners is reproduced below:
Sr.
No.
Name of the Petition Petition No. Dispute Application No.
Pratap Garwad Ujwala Kale 672/2026 36/2025 Pending since 03.04.2025 Pratap Garwad Kavita Chaure 673/2026 32/2025 Pending since 03.04.2025 Pratap Garwad Sarika Padmule 674/2026 31/2025 Pending since 03.04.2025 Pratap Garwad Pramod Dhage 675/2026 33/2025 Pending since 03.04.2025 Pratap Garwad Komal Kedari 677/2026 30/2025 Pending since 03.04.2025
Pratap Garwad Vikas Valekar 679/2026 34/2025 Pending since 03.04.2025 Pratap Garwad Priya Ovhal 683/2026 35/2025 Pending since 03.04.2025 3.
The learned AGP submits that a report regarding arrears of taxes was called for from the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Zilla Parishad, vide communication dated 09.04.2025. 4.
Normally, we are slow in issuing directions in such matters. But, if the Deputy CEO of the Zilla Parishad is not responding to the communication of the District Collector for the past nine months, we need to exercise our jurisdiction in this case. 5.
In view of the above, all these Petitions are disposed off with the following directions :
a) The District Collector shall send a special messenger to the Deputy CEO and call for a report regarding arrears of taxes in respect of Respondent No. 5 in all these cases, within 48 hours. The Deputy CEO shall tender the report on arrears of taxes within 10 working days from the date of receipt of such communication;
b) The District Collector shall thereafter follow the due procedure as laid down in law and, after granting a reasonable opportunity of hearing to all the stakeholders, shall pass a reasoned order on or before 15th March, 2026. (ABHAY J. MANTRI, J.) (RAVINDRA V. GHUGE, J.)