1 WP / 816 / 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY BENCH AT AURANGABAD 953 WRIT PETITION NO. 816 OF 2025 RAMDAS NANA BUDHNAR AND ANOTHER VERSUS THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THROUGH PRINCIPAL SECRETARY AND OTHERS ... Advocate for petitioner : Mr. N.P. Bangar AGP for the respondent – State : Mr. R.K. Ingole ... CORAM : MANGESH S. PATIL & PRAFULLA S. KHUBALKAR, JJ. DATE : 17 JANUARY 2025 PER COURT : Heard. 2. Petitioners claim that reference preferred by them under section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 was physically submitted to the respondent no. 3. There is an acknowledgment at page no. 17 including that of payment of court fees of Rs.3050/- and still the reference has not been forwarded to the civil court for years together. 3. Though, no fault apparently could be found with the petitioners having made the reference in time, in our considered view, even they have contributed to the delay by remaining idle for more than 20 years since making the reference. 2025:BHC-AUG:1529-DB 2 WP / 816 / 2025 4. We dispose of the writ petition with a direction to the respondents, particularly respondents no. 2 and 3 to verify, if any such reference was submitted to their office and if it is pending, they shall immediately make a reference to the civil court. [ PRAFULLA S. KHUBALKAR ] [ MANGESH S. PATIL ] JUDGE JUDGE arp/