9-WP-12506-2025.doc IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 12506 of 2025 Mahesh Vitthal Sawant ...Petitioner vs Anand Shrimant Patil & Ors ...Respondents Adv. Subhash Jadhawar, (through V.C) Advocate for the Petitioner. CORAM : S. G. CHAPALGAONKAR, J. DATED : DECEMBER 2, 2025 P.C.: 1. Heard the learned Advocate for the Petitioner. 2. Petitioner impugns order dated 3rd November 2025 passed by Civil Judge, Junior Division, Barshi below exhibit- 59 in Election Petition No.3 of 2023, by which application filed by him for framing additional issue has been rejected. 3. Respondent No.1 herein filed election petition No.3 of 2023 before Civil Judge, Junior Division under Section 15 of Maharashtra Village Panchayat Act 1950. Learned Civil Judge, Senior Division framed issues on basis of averments in election petition. In pursuance to issues now evidence is 1 ADN 9-WP-12506-2025.doc already recorded, at this stage petitioner filed an application for recasting of issues. 4. It can be observed that Trial Court has framed in all seven issues based on pleading of the parties which are as under : eqn~ns 1- ekSts laxeusj] rk- ck’khZ ;sFkhy xzkeiapk;r dk;kZy;kP;k lnL;inkP;k fuoM.kwdhdjhrk xSjvtZnkj dz- ;kauh fnukad 02@12@2022 jksth nk[ky dsysys uke funsZ’kui= =qVh;qDr o csdk;ns’khj vlY;kps vtZnkj fl/n djrkr dk; ? 2- oj uewn uke funsZ’kui= xSjvtZnkj dz- 1 ;kauh xSjvtZnkj dz- 2 ;kapsdMwu csdk;ns’khjfjR;k fLodkjys vlY;kps vtZnkj fl/n djrkr dk; ? 3- xSjvtZnkj dz- 1 ;kauh xSjvtZnkj dz- 2 ;kapsdMwu ukefunsZ’kui= csdk;ns’khjfjR;k fLodkjys vkgs vls ?kksf”kr gksowu feG.ksl vtZnkj ik= vkgsr dk? 4- xSjvtZnkj dz- 2 ;kaph laxeusj xzkeiapk;e dk;kZy;kP;k lnL;inh >kysyh fuoM rFkk fuoM.kqd csdk;ns’khj vlY;kps o jn~n gks.ksl ik= vlY;kps vtZnkj fl/n djrkr dk;? 5- xSjvtZnkj dz- 2 ;kaph laxeusj xzkeiapk;r dk;kZy;kP;k lnL;inh >kysyh fuoM rFkk fuoM.kwd csdk;ns’khj vlY;kps jn~n gks.ksl ik= vkgs vls ?kksf”kr gksowu feG.ksl vtZnkj ik= vkgsr dk;? 6-vtZnkj ;kauh xSjvtZnkj ;kaps fo:/n gsrw iqjLdj [kksVk vtZ dsyk vlY;kps o R;keqGs xSjvtZnkj dz- 2 gs vtZnkj ;kapsdMwu ,d yk[k :i;s bZrdk fo’ks”k [kpZ ? ks.;kl ik= vlY;kps xSjvtZnkj dz- 2 fl/n djrkr dk;? 7-vafre vkns’k o gqdweukek dk;? 2 ADN 9-WP-12506-2025.doc 5. In pursuance of the aforesaid issues, evidence of the parties came to be recorded on 22nd September 2025. Petitioner thereafter filed an application below Exhibit-59 contending that the issues are not properly framed. Although respondent sought relief against the election of petitioner to the post of Sarpanch, a specific issue in that regard has not been framed. Accordingly, by filing a pursis at Exhibit-59 dated 29th September 2020, petitioner proposed framing/recasting of the issues specified therein, which state as under: : 1- vtZnkjkus gs ‘kkchr dsys vkgs dk; dh] lkeusokyk ua- 2 us ukWfeus’ku QkWeZ gk dk;ns’khj Hkjysyk ukgh- 2- vtZnkjkus gs ‘kkchr dsys vkgs dk; dh] lkeusokyk ua- 1 us lkeusokyk ua- 2 ;k ukWfeus’ku csdk;ns’khj eatqj dsysyk vkgs- 3- vtZnkjkus gs ‘kkchr dsys vkgs dk; dh] lkeusokyk ua- 2 us ukefunsZ’ku i=krhy laiq.kZ ekfgrh u Hkjysus R;kpk fuoM.kqd fudkykoj ifj.kke >kysyk vkgs dk;? (Election Result is materially affected) 4- vtZnkjkus gs ‘kkchr dsys vkgs dh] lkeusokyk ua- 2 ;kauh xkzeiapk;r laxeusj ph ?kjiV~Vh Fkdhr Bsoyh vkgs- 5- vtZnkjkus gs ‘kkchr dsys vkgs dk;] lkeusokyk ua- 1 lkeusokyk ua- 2 ps ukWfeus’ku csdk;ns’khj eatqj dsY;kus 3 ADN 9-WP-12506-2025.doc fuoM.kqd fudkykoj ifj.kke >kyk vkgs? 6. Trial Court, after considering the submissions advanced by learned counsel appearing for the respective parties, observed that both parties have led evidence in pursuance of the issues framed below Exhibit-19 and that the matter has now reached the final stage and is posted for arguments. Trial Court further observed that issue no. 1 needs to be recasted. Accordingly, the application below Exhibit-59 is partly allowed and issue no. 1 is recasted. Issue no. 1 is recasted as under: ekSts laxeusj] rk- ck’khZ ;sFkhy xzkeiapk;r dk;kZy;kP;k ljiapinkP;k fuoM.kwdhdjhrk xSjvtZnkj dz- ;kauh fnukad 02@12@2022 jksth nk[ky dsysys uke funsZ’kui= =qVh;qDr o csdk;ns’khj vlY;kps vtZnkj fl/n djrkr dk; ? 7. Pertinently, the election petition has been filed under Section 15 of the Maharashtra Village Panchayat Act, 1950, wherein an issue is raised as to the validity of acceptance of the nomination form of petitioner. The second prayer for cancellation of election or declaration that the election is 4 ADN 9-WP-12506-2025.doc invalid is consequential in nature. Therefore, once the issue as to the validity of acceptance of the nomination form is framed and decided, the election petition can be finally adjudicated. Issues no. 2 and 3 are sufficient to decide the controversy between the parties. 8. In that view of the matter, the issues proposed are either covered by the issues already framed or are merely consequential. In that view of the matter, and particularly when the application for recasting of issues is moved at the conclusion of trial, there is no reason to interfere with impugned order in exercise of writ jurisdiction of this Court. 9. In result, Writ Petition has been rejected. (S. G. CHAPALGAONKAR, J.) 5 ADN