Bombay High Court

RAMESH PURSHOTTAM SAKHARE AND ORSversusTHE DIRECTOR TOWN PLANNING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT AND ORS

Decided: 11 September 2026
Disposal: Disposed Off

Holding

The Court directed the respondents to decide the pending applications within three months, after hearing all stakeholders, without addressing the merits.

Summary

The petitioners filed a writ petition seeking a court order directing the Director, Town Planning and Valuation Department and other respondents to decide two applications filed by the petitioners on 10 March 2025 and 18 September 2025. The Court, after considering the circumstances, declined to issue a notice or stay the matter and instead directed the respondents to decide the pending applications as expeditiously as possible, preferably within three months, after affording a hearing to all stakeholders. The Court expressly stated that it did not examine the merits of the applications and left all contentions open. Accordingly, the Court issued the direction and disposed of the writ petition. The order reflects the Court's power to direct administrative authorities to act promptly without adjudicating the substantive issues.

Issues considered

Whether a High Court can issue a direction to an administrative authority to decide pending applications within a specified time frame without adjudicating the merits.

Subjects

writ jurisdiction
administrative law
direction to decide applications
expeditious disposal
hearing rights
high court order

Judgment

                                                                              14-WP.1905.2026.doc

        Salunke
                               IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                                       CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

                                       WRIT PETITION NO. 1905 OF 2026

                      Ramesh Purshottam Sakhare & Ors.          }        Petitioners
                           Versus
                      The Director, Town Planning and Valuation }
                      Department & Ors.                         }        Respondents
JAYANT
VISHWANATH
SALUNKE
Digitally signed by
JAYANT VISHWANATH
SALUNKE
                      Ms. Nikita Suresh Kamble i/b. Mr. Suresh Kamble,
Date: 2026.09.13
15:18:13 +0530
                      Advocates for the Petitioners.

                      Ms. Neha S. Bhide, Government Pleader with Mr. Kettan
                      Joshi, ‘B’ Panel Counsel for Respondent Nos. 1 & 4.

                      Mr. Rohit Sakhadeo, Advocate for Respondent-Panvel
                      Municipal Corporation.


                                   CORAM : MAHESH CHANDRA TRIPATHI, CJ. &
                                           ADVAIT M. SETHNA, J.

                                   DATE     : 11th SEPTEMBER, 2026

                      P.C.:
                      1.      The primary relief sought in this Writ Petition is to issue a
                      direction to Respondent Nos. 1 and 2 to decide the applications
                      dated 10th March 2025 and 18 th September 2025 filed by the
                      Petitioners before Respondent Nos. 1 and 2.

                      2.      Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and the
                      relief sought, we are not inclined to issue Notice or keep the matter
                      pending. Instead, we direct the Respondent Nos. 1 and 2 to consider
                      and decide the applications dated 10th March 2025 and 18th
                      September 2025 filed by the Petitioners, as expeditiously as
                      possible and preferably within a period of 3 months from today after

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                                                         14-WP.1905.2026.doc


affording an opportunity of hearing to all the stake holders.

3.    Suffice it to state that we have not adverted to the merits of
the matter and all contentions of the parties are kept open.

4.    With the above Directions, the Writ Petition is Disposed Of.




     [ADVAIT M. SETHNA, J.]                    [CHIEF JUSTICE]




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