Bombay High Court

SANTOSH DNYANOBA MACHAVEversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THROUGH THE SECRETARY AND OTHERS

Disposal: DISPOSED OFF

Holding

The Court directed the respondent to decide the petitioner's proposal on its merits within eight weeks, thereby disposing of the writ petition.

Summary

Santosh Dnyanoba Machave filed a writ petition before the Bombay High Court, Aurangabad Bench, seeking a directive that the State of Maharashtra, through its respondent No.4, decide on a proposal submitted by the petitioner on 12 March 2026. The petitioner alleged that the proposal had not been considered and that the delay violated his rights. The Court examined whether the State was obligated to adjudicate the proposal on its merits within a reasonable time. It held that the State must act and decided the proposal without undue delay. Accordingly, the Court disposed of the petition by ordering the respondent to decide the proposal within eight weeks of receiving the order.

Issues considered

What is the appropriate judicial remedy to compel a government authority to decide a petitioner's proposal on its merits within a reasonable time?

Subjects

writ petition
administrative law
government direction
decision on merit
public authority

Judgment

2026:BHC-AUG:40329-DB


                                                1                     50-WP-11116-26.odt


                        IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                                   BENCH AT AURANGABAD

                             WRIT PETITION NO. 11116 OF 2026

                                 SANTOSH DNYANOBA MACHAVE
                                             VERSUS
                 THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THROUGH THE SECRETARY AND
                                            OTHERS
                                               ...
              Mr. Tukaram Maruti Venjane, Advocate for the Petitioner
              Mr. B. B. Bhise, AGP for Respondents/State
                                               ...

                                      CORAM : NITIN B. SURYAWANSHI AND
                                              ABASAHEB D. SHINDE, JJ.
                                       DATE : 02nd SEPTEMBER, 2026

              PER COURT :

              .            The writ petition is disposed of by directing respondent

              No.4 to decide the proposal of the petitioner dated 12/03/2026, if

              not already decided, on it’s own merit, within a period of eight

              weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order.



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




              SVH

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