Bombay High Court

SANTOSH UTTAMRAO MUNDKARversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THROUGH ITS SECRETARY AND OTHERS

Disposal: DISPOSED OFF

Holding

Petitioners must first approach the Grievance Committee constituted under the 27‑03‑2024 Government Resolution before the court entertains their claims.

Summary

The petitioners, Santosh Uttamrao Mundkar, Laxmi Vitthalrao Pandagale, and Megha Kondiba Pandagale, filed writ petitions challenging actions of the State of Maharashtra. The Court examined whether the petitioners were required to first approach the Grievance Committee established under the Government Resolution dated 27‑03‑2024. Relying on the earlier judgments in Baliram s/o Pandurang Salunke v. State of Maharashtra (Writ Petition No. 11172 of 2019) and Shaikh Tayyaba Jillani v. State of Maharashtra (Writ Petition No. 13407 of 2023), the Court held that the grievance mechanism must be exhausted. Accordingly, the Court granted the petitioners liberty to approach the Committee and directed it to decide their representations expeditiously. The Court ordered that the Committee’s decision be made in accordance with law, the relevant resolution, and the cited precedents. With this direction, the writ petitions were disposed.

Issues considered

Whether the petitioners must first approach the Grievance Committee constituted under the 27‑03‑2024 Government Resolution before seeking judicial relief
Whether the Court can direct the petitioners to exhaust the administrative remedy prescribed by the Government Resolution

Subjects

writ petition
grievance committee
administrative remedy
government resolution
judicial review
high court

Judgment

2026:BHC-AUG:38744-DB


                                                       *1*               75-wp-4911-2023


                          IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                                      BENCH AT AURANGABAD

                                75 WRIT PETITION NO. 4911 OF 2023

                                   Santosh Uttamrao Mundkar
                                              VERSUS
                     The State Of Maharashtra Through Its Secretary And Others
                                                …
                                               WITH
                                   WRIT PETITION NO. 4899 OF 2023
                                    Laxmi Vitthalrao Pandagale
                                                VERSUS
                     The State Of Maharashtra Through Its Secretary And Others
                                                …
                                              WITH
                                   WRIT PETITION NO. 4532 OF 2023
                                     Megha Kondiba Pandagale
                                              VERSUS
                  The State Of Maharashtra Through Its Secretary And Others
                                                 ...
                Mr. Anand V. Patil-Indrale h/f. Mr. S. V. Gundre, Advocate for the
                Petitioners in all matters
                Mr. V. M. Kagne, AGP for State in all petitions.
                Mr. N. S. Kadam, Advocate for Respondent No.2.
                Mr. A. N. Nagargoje, Advocate for Respondent Nos. 3 and 4
                                                …

                                      CORAM : NITIN B. SURYAWANSHI &
                                              ABASAHEB D. SHINDE, JJ.
                                      DATE : 27th AUGUST 2026
                P. C. (Per Abasaheb D. Shinde J.) :-

                1.        Writ Petitions are disposed of by granting liberty to the

                petitioners to approach the Grievance Committee formed under

                Government Resolution dated 27.03.2024.


                Narwade
                                   *2*                      75-wp-4911-2023


2.        The    Committee      shall    expeditiously   decide      the

representations of the petitioners in accordance with law and

taking into consideration the relevant Government Resolution

and the orders passed by this Court in Writ Petition No.11172 of

2019 in the case of Baliram s/o Pandurang Salunke Vs. The

State of Maharashtra and Others, as well as in Writ Petition No.

13407 of 2023 in the case of Shaikh Tayyaba Jillani and

Another Vs. The State of Maharashtra and Others and connected

Writ Petition.

3.        With this direction, writ petitions are disposed of.




(ABASAHEB D. SHINDE, J.)                 (NITIN B. SURYAWANSHI, J.)




Narwade

Continue reading with your account

Checking your session…