Bombay High Court

SUDARSHAN NARAYAN SAWANT AND ORSversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA THR. THE SECRETARY, RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND ORS

Disposal: Disposed Off
Bench: ACTING NANDESH SHANKARRAO DESHPANDE

Holding

A provisional seniority list must be published, objections heard and resolved, after which a final seniority list shall be issued before promotions can be effected.

Summary

The petitioners, including Sudarshan Narayan Sawant, sought the formalization of a seniority list for Zilla Parishad employees, alleging procedural lapses. The respondents, the State of Maharashtra and related officials, relied on a Government Resolution dated 1 February 2023 to argue that the statutory procedure must be followed. The Court directed that a provisional seniority list be published first, with an opportunity for objections, and that after addressing those objections a final seniority list be issued. Following the finalization, the Zilla Parishad is to proceed with promotions without undue delay, and any aggrieved party may seek the appropriate legal remedy. Consequently, the Court disposed of the writ petition.

Issues considered

Whether the seniority list for Zilla Parishad employees must be formalized in accordance with the procedure prescribed by law
Whether a provisional seniority list should be published and objections heard before issuing a final seniority list

Subjects

seniority list
formalization
promotion
administrative law
government resolution
Zilla Parishad
writ petition

Judgment

                                                              922-WP-3028-2026 (C).odt




        IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                 CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR
                CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
                   WRIT PETITION NO. 3028 OF 2026
Sudarshan Narayan Sawant And Ors                           ….Petitioners
          Versus
State of Maharashtra Thr. The Secretary, Rural
Development Department And Ors                 ….Respondents
                                  ----
Mr. Chetan G. Patil a/w Mr. Prathamesh Magadum, Advocate for the
Petitioners.
Mr. B. V. Samant, Addl. G.P. a/w Mr. Swapnil Kamble, AGP for the
Respondent, the State.
Mr. Y . D. P atil i/b Mr. Pankaj Deokar, Advocate for Respondent Nos. 5
and 6.
                                   ----
                       CORAM : RAVINDRA V. GHUGE, ACJ.
                                        &
                               NANDESH S. DESHPANDE, J.

                        DATE       : 10th JULY, 2026
P.C. :-


1.           The issue in the Petition is of formalization of the seniority list.


2.           The learned Advocate representing Respondent Nos. 5 and 6

submits on instructions that the Government Resolution dated 1 st February,

2023 would be kept in focus and the procedure as laid down in law for

formalization of a seniority list, would be followed.


3.           We direct that a provisional seniority list shall first be published,

objections shall be called for and after dealing with the objections, the final


Iresh                                  1 of 2
                                                              922-WP-3028-2026 (C).odt




seniority list shall be published. After the formalization of the seniority list,

the Zilla Parishad would initiate appropriate steps for grant of promotions

without causing delay. Needless to state that any aggrieved party would be

at liberty to avail of the remedy as is permissible in law.


4.         In view of the above, this Petition is disposed off.




(NANDESH S. DESHPANDE, J.)                     (ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE)




Iresh                                 2 of 2

Continue reading with your account

Checking your session…