Bombay High Court

SURESH GANGARAM PATILversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS

Disposal: DISPOSED OFF

Holding

A contempt petition becomes infructuous and must be dismissed when a prolonged lapse of time renders it ineffective.

Summary

The petitioners filed a contempt petition (No. 234 of 2013) against the State of Maharashtra and others. The petition remained pending for over a decade, and the learned counsel for the petitioner argued that the passage of time had rendered the petition infructuous. The Court examined whether a contempt petition can continue to be entertained after such a prolonged lapse. It held that the petition could no longer be maintained because the delay had made it ineffective. Consequently, the Court disposed of the petition as infructuous, effectively dismissing it.

Issues considered

Whether a contempt petition remains maintainable after an inordinate lapse of time rendering it ineffective?

Subjects

contempt of court
infructuous petition
limitation
procedural law
petition dismissal

Judgment

2026:BHC-AUG:39015


                                             1                  909 CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 234 OF 2013



                       IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                                  BENCH AT AURANGABAD

                           909 CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 234 OF 2013
                                     IN WP/4063/2013

                             SURESH GANGARAM PATIL
                                        VERSUS
                     THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS
                                            …..
            Adv. Sachin A. Mane h/f Adv. P. B. Patil, Advocate for the Petitioner
            Adv. M. N. Ghanekar, AGP for Respondents-State
                                            …..

                                       CORAM : SANDIPKUMAR C. MORE AND
                                               VAISHALI PATIL-JADHAV, JJ.

                                       DATED : 27/08/2026
            Per Court:

            .          The learned counsel holding for Mr. Patil for petitioner states

            that the Contempt Petition has become infructuous with the

            passage of time.


            2.         In view of the same, the Petition stands disposed of as

            infructuous.




            ( VAISHALI PATIL-JADHAV, J. ) ( SANDIPKUMAR C. MORE, J. )

            shivani/

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