Bombay High Court

VANDANA GANESH WAGHversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS

Disposal: DISPOSED OFF
Bench: ABHAY MANTRI

Holding

The petition is dismissed for want of prosecution as the petitioner failed to appear and the subject matter became moot due to the expiration of the Gram Panchayat’s term.

Summary

The petitioner, Vandana Ganesh Wagh, filed a writ petition in 2021 challenging an action of the State of Maharashtra and others. The petition remained pending for several years, during which the term of the concerned Gram Panchayat expired. The petitioner failed to appear in court, either in person or via video conferencing, when the matter was called. The learned Additional Government Pleader argued that the expiration of the Gram Panchayat’s term rendered the petition moot. The Court examined the petition and found merit in the contention that the subject matter was no longer live. Consequently, the Court dismissed the petition for want of prosecution, noting the petitioner’s lack of interest and non‑appearance. The dismissal effectively ends the proceedings without any substantive order on the merits.

Issues considered

Whether the writ petition can continue despite the petitioner’s non‑appearance and the expiration of the Gram Panchayat’s term
Whether dismissal for want of prosecution is appropriate under the circumstances

Subjects

writ petition
want of prosecution
Gram Panchayat
non‑appearance
mootness
high court
civil procedure

Judgment

2026:BHC-AUG:34096
(1) 909wp11867.21.odt

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
BENCH AT AURANGABAD

909 WRIT PETITION NO. 11867 OF 2021
Vandana Ganesh Wagh
….Petitioner
VERSUS

The State Of Maharashtra And Others
…..Respondents

Mr. S. N. Morampalle, AGP for the respondent/State
Mr. S. R. Mantri, Advocate h/f Mr. S. S. Gangakhedkar, Advocate for
the Respondent No. 5

CORAM : ABHAY J. MANTRI, J.
DATE : 06th AUGUST, 2026

PER COURT :

1. No one appears for the petitioner either in the court hall
or through VC mode when the matter is called out.
2. The learned AGP submitted that during pendency of this
petition the term of the Gram Panchayat has expired.
3. As such, I perused the petition, and I found substance in
his contention in that regard.
4. Apart from that, it seems that since 2021 the petition is
pending and the petitioner is not interested in prosecuting the same.
Hence, the Petition is dismissed for want of prosecution .

[ABHAY J. MANTRI, J. ]
VishalK/909wp11867.21.odt

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