Bombay High Court

RAHUL BABANRAO BHAGWATversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THROUGH SECRETARY AND OTHERS

Disposal: DISPOSED OFF

Holding

The Court held that the Collector must decide the petitioner’s representation on its merits within eight weeks of the order.

Summary

Rahul Babanrao Bhagwat filed a public interest writ petition before the Bombay High Court, Aurangabad Bench, seeking relief concerning a representation he submitted on 18 December 2025. The petition challenged the delay or inaction of the Collector in deciding that representation. The Court examined whether the administrative authority was obligated to adjudicate the representation promptly. Relying on principles of administrative efficiency and the petitioner’s right to a timely decision, the Court directed the Collector to decide the representation on its merits. The order required the decision to be rendered within eight weeks of receipt of the Court’s order, and the writ petition was disposed accordingly.

Issues considered

What duty, if any, does the Collector have to decide the petitioner’s representation dated 18‑12‑2025 within a specified time frame?

Subjects

public interest litigation
writ petition
administrative law
representation
time‑bound decision
collector

Judgment

2026:BHC-AUG:39091-DB
                                                       1                          20.doc



                         IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                                  BENCH AT AURANGABAD
                    20 PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION NO. 6 OF 2026

                           RAHUL BABANRAO BHAGWAT
                                   VERSUS
           THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THROUGH SECRETARY AND OTHERS
                                                ...


                   Advocate for the Petitioner : Mr. Rupesh Anil Jaiswal
                       AGP for Respondent/State : Mr. V.M. Kagne
                                             …
                                               CORAM       : NITIN B. SURYAWANSHI AND
                                                             ABASAHEB D. SHINDE, JJ.
                                                DATE       : 27.08.2026

               PER COURT :
               .        Writ   Petition   is    disposed    of   by   directing   respondent
               No.3/Collector to decide the representation of the petitioner dated
               18.12.2025, on its own merits, within a period of eight (08) weeks
               from the date of receipt of copy of this order.




               ( ABASAHEB D. SHINDE, J. )                   ( NITIN B. SURYAWANSHI, J. )




   vsj..

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