Bombay High Court
LAXMAN ANKUSH SONAWALKARversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS
- Disposal
- DISPOSED OFF
Holding
The court held that the petitions cannot be entertained due to the lapse of about eight years and therefore disposed of them.
Summary
The petitioners, who are Zilla Parishad teachers, filed multiple writ petitions challenging transfers that were effected in 2018. Some of the transfers had already been implemented. The High Court observed that approximately eight years had elapsed since the transfers, rendering the challenges untimely. It held that such a delay defeats the purpose of judicial review and the petitions could not be entertained. Consequently, the Court disposed of all the writ petitions and any pending applications without examining the merits. No statutory or case law was relied upon.
Issues considered
- Whether a writ petition challenging a government employee's transfer can be entertained after a lapse of eight years.
Subjects
- transfer of government employees
- Zilla Parishad teachers
- writ petition
- delay in filing
- administrative order
- public service
Judgment
2026:BHC-AUG:39994-DB
30 WP NO. 5559 OF 2018
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
BENCH AT AURANGABAD
WRIT PETITION NO. 5559 OF 2018
Yogesh Shivaji Gosavi
VERSUS
The State Of Maharashtra And Others
…
WITH
WRIT PETITION NO. 5561 OF 2018
Vaishali Subhashrao Gaikwad
VERSUS
The State Of Maharashtra And Others
…
WITH
WRIT PETITION NO. 5560 OF 2018
Satish Tukaram Gangarde
VERSUS
The State Of Maharashtra And Others
…
WITH
CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 10082 OF 2018
IN WP/5559/2018
Laxman Ankush Sonawalkar
VERSUS
The State Of Maharashtra And Others
…
WITH
WRIT PETITION NO. 5562 OF 2018
Madhav Prabhakar Gosavi
VERSUS
State Of Maharashtra And Others
…
WITH
WRIT PETITION NO. 5564 OF 2018
Smt Jyoti Padmakar Ghawate
VERSUS
Jhs/ 1/3
30 WP NO. 5559 OF 2018
State Of Maharashtra And Others
…
WITH
WRIT PETITION NO. 5563 OF 2018
Smt Nirmala Rangnath Dhere
VERSUS
State Of Maharashtra And Others
…
WITH
WRIT PETITION NO. 5825 OF 2018
Manisha Abhiman Kharade
VERSUS
The State Of Maharashtra And Others
…
WITH
WRIT PETITION NO. 5830 OF 2018
Sonali Ashok Dokhe @ Sonali Ajit Gadekar And Another
VERSUS
The State Of Maharashtra And Others
…
• Mr. Arvind G. Ambetkar, Advocate for the Petitioners in Writ
Petition Nos. 5559 of 2018, 5560 of 2018, 5561 of 2018, 5562
of 2018, 5563 of 2018, 5564 of 2018, 5825 of 2018 and 5830
of 2018.
• Mr. Ajay T. Kanawade, Advocate for the Applicant in Civil
Application No. 10082 of 2018 in Writ Petition No. 5559 of
2018.
• Mr. R. S. Wani, AGP for Respondent Nos. 1 to 4 – State.
• Mr. Shivaji T. Shelke, Advocate for Respondent Nos. 5 and 6 in
the respective Writ Petitions.
…
CORAM : KISHORE C. SANT &
JITENDRA JAIN, JJ.
DATE : 31st AUGUST, 2026
Jhs/ 2/3
30 WP NO. 5559 OF 2018
PER COURT :
1. All these petitions concern the transfers of the petitioners,
who are Zilla Parishad teachers. The petitioners challenge their
respective transfers effected in the year 2018. It is informed that
some of the transfers have already been effected. Considering the
lapse of about eight years, this Court does not find it appropriate to
entertain the challenge to the transfers at this stage.
2. In view of the above, no case is made out for entertaining
these petitions. Hence, the Writ Petitions stand disposed of.
3. Pending applications, if any, also stand disposed of.
[JITENDRA JAIN, J.] [KISHORE C. SANT, J.]
Jhs/ 3/3
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