Bombay High Court
SANJIT JAGANNATHRAO KOMATWARversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS
- Disposal
- DISPOSED OFF
Holding
The Court held that the writ petitions are dismissed as infructuous because the passage of time and the change in liquor‑licence law make them untenable.
Summary
The petitioners, owners of several beer bars and permit rooms, filed writ petitions challenging the State of Maharashtra's refusal to grant liquor licences. They argued that the denial was arbitrary. The State contended that the petitions were no longer viable due to the lapse of time and subsequent changes in the law governing liquor licences. The Court examined whether the petitions remained maintainable in light of these factors. Finding that the passage of time and the legislative amendments rendered the petitions infructuous, the Court dismissed all the writ petitions. Consequently, the petitioners received no relief and the State's position was upheld.
Issues considered
- Whether the writ petitions challenging the denial of liquor licences are maintainable despite the lapse of time.
- Whether changes in the law governing the grant of liquor licences render the petitions infructuous.
Subjects
- liquor licence
- writ petition
- limitation
- change in law
- infructuous
- High Court of Bombay
- public policy
Judgment
2026:BHC-AUG:4801-DB
4 to 11
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
BENCH AT AURANGABAD
4 WRIT PETITION NO. 5504 OF 2019
Hotel Ashoka Beer Bar And Permit Room Through Its
Proprietor N. B. Shinde
VERSUS
The State Of Maharashtra And Others
…
• Adv. Anushka Pansare h/f. Adv. A. T. Jadhavar for the Petitioner
• Mr. M. K, Goyanka, AGP for State
…
AND
5 WRIT PETITION NO. 5505 OF 2019
Hotel Raj Beer Bar And Permit Room Through Its
Proprietor K. B. Nikam
VERSUS
The State Of Maharashtra And Others
…
• Adv. Anushka Pansare h/f. Adv. A. T. Jadhavar for the Petitioner
• Mr. S. R. Wakale, AGP for State
…
AND
6 WRIT PETITION NO. 5506 OF 2019
Hotel Sapna Beer Bar And Permit Room Through Its
Proprietor B. K. Komatwar
VERSUS
The State Of Maharashtra And Others
…
• Adv. Anushka Pansare h/f. Adv. A. T. Jadhavar for the Petitioner
• Ms. V. S. Chaudhari, AGP for State
…
AND
7 WRIT PETITION NO. 5507 OF 2019
Ramesh Raghunath Telang
VERSUS
The State Of Maharashtra And Others
ksk/ 1/3
4 to 11
…
• Adv. Anushka Pansare h/f. Adv. A. T. Jadhavar for the Petitioner
• Mr. N. D. Batule, AGP for State
…
AND
8 WRIT PETITION NO. 5508 OF 2019
Vijaya Surendra Jaiswal
VERSUS
The State Of Maharashtra And Others
…
• Adv. Anushka Pansare h/f. Adv. A. T. Jadhavar for the Petitioner
• Mr. A. V. Lavte, AGP for State
…
AND
9 WRIT PETITION NO. 5509 OF 2019
Narayan Marotirao Kshirsagar
VERSUS
The State Of Maharashtra And Others
…
• Adv. Anushka Pansare h/f. Adv. A. T. Jadhavar for the Petitioner
• Mrs. V. P. Dama, AGP for State
…
AND
10 WRIT PETITION NO. 5510 OF 2019
Sanjit Jagannathrao Komatwar
VERSUS
The State Of Maharashtra And Others
…
• Adv. Anushka Pansare h/f. Adv. A. T. Jadhavar for the Petitioner
• Mr. M. K. Goyanka, AGP for State
…
AND
11 WRIT PETITION NO. 5511 OF 2019
Hotel Chandani Beer Bar And Permit Room Through Its
Proprietor S. S. Ranjankar
ksk/ 2/3
4 to 11
VERSUS
The State Of Maharashtra And Others
…
• Adv. Anushka Pansare h/f. Adv. A. T. Jadhavar for the Petitioner
• Mr. G. A. Kulkarni, AGP for State
…
CORAM : ARUN R. PEDNEKER AND
VAISHALI PATIL-JADHAV, JJ.
DATE : 02.02.2026
PER COURT:
1. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that due to
passage of time and change in the law as regards grant of liquor licence,
petitions are rendered infructuous.
2. The writ petitions are accordingly dismissed as infructuous.
[VAISHALI PATIL-JADHAV, J.] [ARUN R. PEDNEKER, J.]
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