Bombay High Court

KARBHARI SURYABHAN NALAWADEversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THROUGH ITS SECRETARY REVENUE AND FOREST DEPARTMENT AND OTHERS

Disposal: DISPOSED OFF

Holding

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

Summary

Petitioner Karbhari Suryabhan Nalawade filed a writ petition before the Bombay High Court, Aurangabad Bench, challenging the inaction of the District Collector regarding his representation dated 24 June 2026. The Court examined whether the Collector had unreasonably delayed consideration of the representation. It held that the Collector must adjudicate the representation on its merits without further delay. Accordingly, the Court directed the Collector to decide the representation within eight weeks of receiving a copy of the order. The writ petition was consequently disposed.

Issues considered

What is the appropriate time frame for a District Collector to decide a representation filed by a citizen?
Whether the delay in deciding the representation warrants judicial intervention through a writ petition.

Subjects

writ petition
representation
district collector
administrative law
procedural fairness

Judgment

2026:BHC-AUG:40367-DB
                                             1                           60.WP.11196.26.odt

                          IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                                     BENCH AT AURANGABAD

                                 WRIT PETITION NO. 11196 OF 2026

                             KARBHARI SURYABHAN NALAWADE
                                             VERSUS
                 THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THROUGH ITS SECRETARY
                    REVENUE AND FOREST DEPARTMENT AND OTHERS
                                                ...
              Advocate for the Petitioner : Mr. M.V. Ghatge h/f. Mr. Taur Mahesh S.
                           AGP for Respondent/State : Mr. B.B. Bhise
                                                ...

                                     CORAM        : NITIN B. SURYAWANSHI AND
                                                    ABASAHEB D. SHINDE, JJ.


                                     DATE         : 03.09.2026


             PER COURT:

                       The writ petition is disposed of by directing respondent No.2 –

             District Collector to decide the representation/application of the

             petitioner dated 24.06.2026, on its own merits, within a period of

             eight (8) weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order.



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




             habeeb/

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