Bombay High Court
KALYANI PANDHARINATH LOHHAKAREversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THR THE GP AND ANR
- Decided
- Disposal
- Disposed Off
Holding
The court held that there was no need for further adjudication and directed the corporation to verify the petitioner’s documents, including cash vouchers, within three weeks.
Summary
The petitioner, Kalyani Pandharinath Lohakare, filed a writ petition under Article 226 seeking to quash a condition requiring submission of a bank statement and to compel the Nashik Municipal Corporation to consider cash vouchers as proof of experience. The corporation responded with a communication indicating that the petitioner had submitted cash vouchers and related documents via WhatsApp and that these would be verified by the Staff Selection Committee. The High Court, after reviewing the communication, held that further adjudication was unnecessary and directed the corporation to verify the documents and make a decision within three weeks. All parties' contentions were kept open, and the petition was disposed without granting the specific reliefs sought. No costs were awarded.
Issues considered
- Whether the condition requiring submission of a bank statement can be quashed.
- Whether cash vouchers can be considered as proof of experience for the petitioner.
- Whether the corporation is obligated to verify the submitted documents within a specified time frame.
Subjects
- Article 226
- Writ Petition
- Cash Voucher
- Document Verification
- Municipal Corporation
- Procedural Direction
Judgment
17-WP-7361-2026 (C).DOC
2026:BHC-AS:25667-DB
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
WRIT PETITION NO. 7361 OF 2026
Kalyani Pandharinath Lohhakare ...Petitioner
Versus
The State of Maharashtra & Anr. ...Respondents
_________
Mr. Kayval P. shah for Petitioner.
Smt. P. N. Diwan, AGP for State.
Mr. Jitendra Pathade a/w Priyanka Singh for Intervenor.
Mr. Rohit Sakhadeo for Respondent No.2.
__________
CORAM: G. S. KULKARNI &
AARTI SATHE, JJ.
DATE: 22 JUNE 2026
P.C.
1. This petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India is filed
praying for the following substantive reliefs:
“(a) This Hon’ble Court may be pleased to quash and set aside the condition
w.r.t. submission of the bank statement in the Notice dated 11.04.2026 and letter
dated 29.04.2026 as issued by the Respondent Corporation calling upon the
Petitioner to file the bank statement.
(b) This Hon’ble Court be pleased to direct the Respondent Corporation to
consider the cash vouchers while considering the Application of the petitioner.”
2. At the outset, Mr. Sakhadeo, learned counsel for the Municipal
Corporation has placed on record a communication received by him from the
Deputy Commissioner (Administration) Shri. Laxmikant Satalkar, of the
Corporation, informing him that the Competent Officer would consider the
documents of the petitioner as received on 16 June 2026. The contents of the
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Kiran Kawre
17-WP-7361-2026 (C).DOC
said letter are required to be noted which reads thus:
“[Official Translation of a photocopy of a Letter typewritten in Marathi.]
NASHIK MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, NASHIK
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT
Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan, Sharanpur Road, Nashik.
Phone No. 0253-2222416 Email ID: [email protected]
O. No. Estd./WS/Desk-09/47/2026 Date : 16.06.2026.
To,
Advocate Rohit Sakhdev, Panel Advocate – MC,
Hon’ble Bombay High Court, Mumbai.
Writ Petition (ST) No. 14721/2026
Subject -
Kalyani Pandharinath Lohakare
Versus
Government of Maharashtra.
Reference - Your telephonic message dated 16.06.2026.
In connection with the above-noted subject, it is hereby mentioned that
on the date 08.06.2026, the Applicant Smt. Kalyani Lohakare and some other
Candidates have requested us to accept the Cash Voucher as proof of experience
and to qualify them in the Document Verification Process. Moreover, on this day,
the date 16.08.2026 (sic 16.06.2026) the Applicant Smt. Kalyani Lohakare has
submitted via Whats-app, some copies regarding having filled up the Form No.
16. The said documents will be verified immediately by the Staff Selection
Committee and an appropriate decision will be taken in that regard.
(Signature Illegible)
(Laxmikant Satalkar)
Deputy Commissioner (Administration)
and Member Secretary
Staff Selection Committee
Nashik Municipal Corporation, Nashik.”
3. In this view of the matter, further adjudication of the petition is not called
for. Let the said documents be verified and appropriate decision taken within a
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period of three weeks from today and communicate the same to the petitioner.
4. All contentions of the parties are expressly kept open.
5. Disposed of in the aforesaid terms. No costs.
(AARTI SATHE, J.) (G. S. KULKARNI, J.)
Signed by: Kiran Kawre Page 3 of 3
Designation: PA To Honourable Judge 22 June 2026
Date: 23/06/2026 20:27:49 Kiran Kawre
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