Prashant Kishor Mehta v. Joint Chairty Commissioner I And ORS

Digitally signed by GAURI AMIT GAEKWAD Date:

2026.03.07 10:37:57 +0530 GAURI AMIT GAEKWAD

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

(913) WRIT PETITION NO.2909 OF 2026 Prashant Kishor Mehta ....Petitioner

Versus

Joint Charity Commissioner & Ors. ....Respondents WITH

(914) WRIT PETITION NO.2913 OF 2026 Charuben K. Mehta ....Petitioner

Versus

Joint Charity Commissioner & Ors. ....Respondents ---- Mr. Gaurav Joshi, Senior Advocate a/w. Mr. Piyush Raheja, Mr. Devesh Juvekar, Mr. Dikshat Mehra, Mr. Mithilesh Chalke, Ms. Minal Chandnani and Ms. Honey Chandnani i/b. Rajani Associates for the Petitioner in WP/2909/2026. Mr. Zal Andhyarujina, Senior Advocate a/w. Mr. Surel Shah, Senior Advocate a/w. Mr. Dinesh Pednekar, Mr. C. Keswani, Mr. Minhas Joshi and Ms. Aditi Singh i/b. Economic Laws Practice for the Petitioner in WP/2913/2026.

Mr. B.V. Samant, Addl. GP a/w. Ms. Pooja Patil, AGP for Respondent Nos.1 and 2 in WP/2909/2026.

Ms. Pooja Patil, AGP for Respondent Nos.1 and 2 in WP/2913/2026.

Mr. Venkatesh Dhond, Senior Advocate a/w. Mr. Aditya N. Raut and Mr. Amol Kumeria i/b. Desai Desai Carrimjee and Mulla for Respondent No.3 in WP/2909/2026.

Mr. Joel Carlos a/w. Mr. Aditya N. Raut and Mr. Amol Kumeria i/b. Desai Desai Carrimjee and Mulla for Respondent No.3 in WP/2913/2026.

Mr. Shyam Kapadia a/w. Mr. Bhavin Gada and Mr. Ameya Deosthale i/b. Stratage Law Partners for Respondent No.4 in WP/2913/2026.

---- CORAM : RAVINDRA V. GHUGE & ABHAY J. MANTRI, JJ.

DATE : 6th MARCH, 2026

P.C. :- 1.

The learned Senior Advocates along with the learned Advocates for all the parties appearing before us, are united in submitting that this Court can pass the following order : The Joint Charity Commissioner will hear the present Petitioners before us, as well as all the Applicants and Non-Applicants, on Applications [Exhibit Nos.8, 12 and 15], in Application No.10 of 2026, on merits, maintainability and jurisdiction, before deciding whether a prima facie case is made out for issuing notice under Section 41D(2)(a) of the Maharashtra Public Trust Act.

2.

Since all the parties are agreeable to the above, both these Petitions are disposed off in terms of the above portion set out in italics.

3.

We expect all the parties before the learned Joint Charity Commissioner to maintain the dignity and decorum of his office and to address him as per their serial numbers in the array of Applicants and Non-Applicants, one after the other. Two or more parties shall not address him at the same time, and none of the parties would interject or argue with each other, when a particular party is addressing the Authority as per its turn.

4.

All the parties shall repose faith and trust in the Justice dispensation system and the Authority in the chair. 5.

Needless to state, any decision of the learned Joint Charity Commissioner would be within the framework of Section 41D(2)(a). The parties would cooperate with the learned Joint Charity Commissioner for facilitating an expeditious decision in view of the above.

(ABHAY J. MANTRI, J.) (RAVINDRA V. GHUGE, J.)