Bombay High Court

MANISHA SANJEEVKUMAR DALVIversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THROUGH ITS SECRETARY AND ORS

Disposal: DISPOSED OFF
Bench: N B SURYAWANSHI ABASAHEB D SHINDE

Holding

The Court held that the Deputy Director must decide the petitioner's proposal on its merits within six weeks of receiving the order.

Summary

Manisha Sanjeevkumar Dalvi filed a writ petition before the Bombay High Court, Aurangabad Bench, seeking a direction against the State of Maharashtra to decide on a proposal she submitted on 30 January 2026, which had been forwarded by the Education Officer. The petition alleged that the concerned authority had not taken a decision within a reasonable time, violating her right to speedy administrative action. The Court, exercising its jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution, examined whether the Deputy Director was obligated to act on the proposal. It found that the delay was unjustified and that the authority must adjudicate the matter on its merits. Consequently, the Court ordered the Deputy Director (Respondent No.3) to decide the proposal within six weeks of receiving a copy of the order. The writ petition was thereby disposed of with a specific directive to the respondent.

Issues considered

What is the appropriate time frame within which an administrative authority must decide a pending proposal under the principles of natural justice?
Does the High Court have the jurisdiction to direct a specific administrative authority to decide a matter within a stipulated period under Article 226?

Subjects

writ petition
administrative law
direction
delay
Article 226
Maharashtra

Judgment

2026:BHC-AUG:26859-DB


                                                 1                  26-WP-5577-26.odt


                        IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                                   BENCH AT AURANGABAD

                              WRIT PETITION NO. 5577 OF 2026

                                MANISHA SANJEEVKUMAR DALVI
                                            VERSUS
                  THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THROUGH ITS SECRETARY AND
                                            OTHERS
                                                ...
              Mr. Nitin K. Chaudhari, Advocate for the Petitioner
              Mr. S. K. Tambe, AGP for Respondents/State
                                                ...

                                      CORAM : NITIN B. SURYAWANSHI AND
                                              ABASAHEB D. SHINDE, JJ.
                                        DATE : 07th JULY, 2026

              PER COURT :

              .            The writ petition is disposed of by directing respondent

              No.3 Deputy Director to take decision on the proposal of petitioner

              dated 30/01/2026, forwarded by the Education O5cer, if not already

              decided, on it’s own merit, within a period of six weeks from the

              date of receipt of copy of this order.



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




              SVH

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