The Deccan Paper Mills Co Ltd v. Harshad Ramesh Ghule

12-CP-235-2026.doc

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 235 OF 2026 IN WRIT PETITION NO. 4931 OF 2023 The Deccan Paper Mills Co Ltd ..

Petitioner V/S.

Harshad Ramesh Ghule ..

Respondent ------------------- Ms. Meena H. Doshi, for the Petitioner.

Mr. R. S. Pawar, AGP for the Respondent/State. Mr. Abhijit P. Kulkarni, a/w Mr. Abhishek Roy and Ms. Sweta Shah, for Respondent No. 2- PMC.

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CORAM

:

MANISH PITALE & SHREERAM V. SHIRSAT, JJ.

DATE :

29TH APRIL 2026.

PC:

1.

On 21st April 2026, this Court had taken note of the fact that the respondent Special Land Acquisition Officer had not abided by the direction issued by this Court in the order dated 06/02/2025, about declaring the award in respect of the petitioner's acquired property within two months of the date of the said order.

2.

It was found that the said respondent was merely exchanging communications, showing no intention of abiding by the direction issued by this Court. In that light, we had adjourned the hearing till today, expecting the learned AGP to apprise this Court about the declaration of the award. Sweety

12-CP-235-2026.doc 3.

Today, the learned AGP, on instructions, seeks adjournment of two weeks, indicating that the award would be declared in the meantime. We find the approach of the Special Land Acquisition Officer to be casual and cavalier, which may invite stringent orders from this Court in contempt jurisdiction.

4.

List this petition under the same category of fresh matters on 6th May 2026. If the award is not declared prior to the said date, this Court will take the contempt petition towards its logical end. In the event, the award is not declared before the next date of listing, the Respondent No. 1- Harshad Ramesh Ghule shall remain personally present in this Court on the next date of listing.

(SHREERAM V. SHIRSAT, J.) (MANISH PITALE, J.) Sweety