Bombay High Court

VASANT PANDURANG PATILversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS

Disposal: DISPOSED OFF
Bench: VIBHA KANKANWADI HITEN S VENEGAVKAR

Holding

The Court ordered the respondents to forward the reference to the competent authority within three weeks.

Summary

Petitioner Vasant Pandurang Patil filed a writ petition seeking a direction to the Collector of Sambhajinagar to forward pending reference applications to the competent authority within a month and for the competent authority to decide those references within a year. The respondent's Attorney General waived notice and assured that the reference would be forwarded within three weeks. The Court examined the petition and, without extensive reasoning, ordered the respondents to forward the reference to the competent authority within three weeks of the order. No further directions were given regarding the one‑year decision period. The petition was thus disposed by granting the relief sought concerning the forwarding of the reference.

Issues considered

Whether the High Court can issue a mandamus directing the Collector to forward pending reference applications to the competent authority within a specified time.

Subjects

writ petition
mandamus
administrative delay
reference application
competent authority
high court order

Judgment

2026:BHC-AUG:3624-DB




                    IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                               BENCH AT AURANGABAD

                                 WRIT PETITION NO. 753 OF 2026

                                    Vasant Pandurang Patil
                                           VERSUS
                             The State Of Maharashtra And Others

           Mr. N. J. Pahune Patil, Advocate for petitioner
           Mr. R. S. Wani, AGP for respondent Nos. 1 to 3

                                            CORAM : Smt. Vibha Kankanwadi &
                                                    Hiten S. Venegavkar, JJ.
                                            DATE       : 23rd January, 2026

           PER COURT :-


           1.          Present petition has been filed for following reliefs :

                B)     To direct the respondent No. 02 i.e., Collector Chh.
                Sambhajinagar to refer the pending reference applications of the
                petitioners to the competent authority for adjudication within
                period of one month or any other period which my lords feel
                appropriate and for that purpose necessary writ and orders may
                kindly be issued.

                C)    To direct the competent authority where the reference is
                referred U/sec. 64, to decide such reference within period of one
                year from the date of reference and for that purpose necessary
                Orders may kindly be issued.



           2.          Learned AGP waives notice for respondent Nos. 1 to 3 and

           submits that the reference would be forwarded to the proper authority

           within a period of three weeks from today.




           941-WP-753-2026.odt                                                   1 of 2
3.            We therefore, dispose of the writ petition by directing

respondents to forward the reference to the competent authority within a

period of three weeks from today.




(Hiten S. Venegavkar, J.)             (Smt. Vibha Kankanwadi, J.)

B. S. Joshi




941-WP-753-2026.odt                                                2 of 2

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