Bombay High Court
BALASAHEB PANDARINATH SHENDEversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THR. ITS CHIEF SECRETARY, COOPERATION, MARKETING AND TEXTILE DEP AND ORS.
- Disposal
- Disposed Off
Holding
The court directed respondent No. 4 to decide the petitioner's proposal expeditiously, within six weeks from the date of the order.
Summary
The petitioner, Balasaheb Pandarinath Shende, filed a writ petition seeking a directive for the State of Maharashtra to decide his proposal dated 20 May 2026, which concerns substituting the working partner of his sugar factory. The respondent argued that the proposal must be considered by a Committee of Ministers under a government resolution, requiring at least ten weeks. The court noted the urgency due to the impending sugarcane season and the need for crushing preparations by month‑end. It therefore ordered respondent No. 4 to decide the proposal expeditiously, specifying a six‑week deadline from the date of the order. The petition was disposed, with liberty granted to file a fresh petition if any further cause arises.
Issues considered
- Whether the State of Maharashtra must decide the petitioner's proposal within a shorter period than the ten weeks claimed by the respondent
- Whether the court can direct an administrative body to expedite its decision on a proposal affecting a private sugar factory
Subjects
- Writ petition
- Administrative law
- Expeditious decision
- Sugar factory
- Government resolution
- State of Maharashtra
Judgment
907-WP-3981-2026.doc
Digitally signed IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
by HARISH
VITHAL
HARISH
VITHAL
CHAUDHARI CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR
CHAUDHARI Date:
2026.08.25
20:12:24
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
+0530
WRIT PETITION NO. 3981 OF 2026
Balasaheb Pandarinath Shende ...Petitioner.
Versus
The State Of Maharashtra
Thr. Its Chief Secretary, Cooperation,
Marketing And Textile Dep And Others ...Respondents.
——————
Mr. Vishwanath Talkute i/b Mr. Pradeep Salgar for the Petitioner.
Ms. Tejas J. Kapre AGP for the Respondent-State.
——————
Coram : Sharmila U. Deshmukh &
Neeraj P. Dhote, JJ.
Date : August 25, 2026.
P. C. :
1. By the present petition, the limited relief which is now being
sought by learned counsel appearing for the petitioner is to decide the
petitioner's proposal dated 20.05.2026, which is to be decided by
respondent No. 4.
2. Learned AGP would submit that the proposal is to be decided by a
Committee of Ministers which is constituted under the Government
Resolution dated 09.04.2025, which will require some time for
consideration. She would submit that as the proposal has been
submitted in May 2026, at least a period of ten weeks will be required
Harish 1 of 2
907-WP-3981-2026.doc
for the proposal to be considered.
3. The proposal which has been submitted by the petitioner is for
substituting the working partner of the petitioner's sugar factory. As
the sugarcane season is starting shortly, and preparations for sugarcane
crushing are required to be completed by the end of this month, in our
opinion, the proposal which has been submitted on 20.05.2026 is
required to be decided expeditiously.
4. We request respondent No. 4 to decide the proposal dated
20.05.2026 expeditiously and, in any event, within a period of six weeks
from today.
5. The petition is disposed of in terms of the above.
6. Insofar as the other reliefs are concerned, liberty is given to the
petitioner to ile a fresh petition in the event the cause arises.
[Neeraj P. Dhote, J.] [Sharmila U. Deshmukh, J.]
Harish 2 of 2
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