Bombay High Court
RANGNATH GOPINATH DHONDEversusTHE RETURNING OFFICER FOR ELECTION OF ASHTI NAGAR PANCHAYAT AND OTHERS
- Disposal
- DISPOSED OFF
Holding
The writ petition is infructuous because the councilor's term has already ended, rendering further adjudication unnecessary.
Summary
The petitioner, Rangnath Gopinath Dhonde, challenged a district court order dated 11 July 2019 that disqualified him from serving as Councilor of Ward No.16, Ashti Nagar Panchayat, following an election petition filed by respondent No.3. The High Court noted that the election in question was held on 2 November 2015 and the term of the Nagar Panchayat expired in 2020, rendering the matter moot. Since the statutory term had already ended, there was no substantive issue left for adjudication. Consequently, the Court held that the writ petition was infructuous. The petition was therefore disposed of without further orders.
Issues considered
- What is the appropriate remedy when a disqualification order pertains to a term that has already expired?
Subjects
- Election law
- Disqualification
- Nagar Panchayat
- Writ petition
- Infructuous
- Councilor term expiry
Judgment
2026:BHC-AUG:12332
Dilwale 1 71-WP12158-19-.odt
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
BENCH AT AURANGABAD
71 WRIT PETITION NO. 12158 OF 2019
Rangnath Gopinath Dhonde
VERSUS
The Returning Officer For Election Of Ashti Nagar Panchayat And Others
...
Advocate for the Petitioner : Mr. S. N. Gaikwad h/f Mr. Niteen V. Gaware
AGP for Respondents: Mr. A. D. Wange
...
CORAM : SIDDHESHWAR S. THOMBRE, J.
DATE : 18.03.2026
PER COURT :
1. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner.
2. The petitioner is assailing the order passed dated 11.07.2019 by
the learned District Judge, Beed, whereby the election petition filed by
respondent no.3 came to be allowed and the petitioner (Mr. Dhonde) has
been disqualified from continuing as Councilor of Ward No.16, Nagar
Panchayat, Ashti.
3. Admittedly, the election was held on 2nd November, 2015 and the
term of the Nagar Panchayat has already came to an end in the year
2020. In view thereof, nothing survives for consideration in the present
petition.
4. The petitioner was restrained from continuing as Councilor and
since the term itself is over, no further adjudication is required.
Dilwale 2 71-WP12158-19-.odt
5. In view of the above, the Writ Petition stands disposed of as
infructuous.
6. Pending Civil Applications, if any, stand disposed of.
[ SIDDHESHWAR S. THOMBRE ]
JUDGE
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