Renuka Namdeo Lokhande v. The Minister For Rural Development Department, Mumbai And Others

2026:BHC-NAG:5452-DB 114.WP.2838.2026 1/2

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR WRIT PETITION NO. 2838 OF 2026 Renuka Namdeo Lokhande Vs.

The Minister for Rural Development Department, Mantralaya, Mumbai & Ors. ______________________________________________________________________________ Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, Appearances, Court's orders of directions Court's or Judge's order and Registrar's orders.

Mr. Sagar Rawate, Advocate h/f. Mr. S.M. Vaishnav, Advocate for the Petitioner.

Mr. I.J. Damle, AGP for Respondent Nos.1 to 3/State. ------------------------------- CORAM : ANIL S. KILOR AND R AJ D. WAKODE , JJ.

DATE : 07.04.2026 Heard.

2.

An innocuous prayer is made in this petition seeking a direction to respondent No.1 to decide the appeal preferred under Section 39(3) of the Maharashtra Village Panchayats Act, 1959.

3.

Admittedly, the said appeal was filed on 24.02.2026, i.e., about one and a half months ago. As per the provisions of the aforesaid Act, respondent No.1 is required to decide the appeal within a period of one month from the date of receipt thereof. The said period has already expired.

4.

Accordingly, the learned AGP was asked to take instructions as to within what time the Hon'ble Minister will decide the appeal. We are surprised to note that despite the law mandates that the appeal shall be decided within one month, the instructions received from respondent Nos.1 and 2 are that the Hon'ble Minister will decide the appeal within two months.

114.WP.2838.2026 2/2 5.

In the above-referred backdrop, since the law does not permit to prolong the matter beyond one month, we dispose of the present writ petition with a direction to respondent No.1 to decide the appeal expeditiously and, in any case, on or before 06.05.2026, in accordance with law.

6.

In that view of the matter, the petition is disposed of in above-referred terms. No order as to costs.

(RAJ D. WAKODE, J.) (ANIL S. KILOR, J.) Vijaykumar Signed by: Mr. Vijay Kumar Designation: PA To Honourable Judge Date: 07/04/2026 18:59:26