409- WP-12614-2026.DOC IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 12614 OF 2026 Vikas Nitin Khairnar and Anr ...Petitioners Versus The State of Maharashtra Thru Secretary & Ors ...Respondents _______ Mr Vinayak R Kumbhar, with Rajendra B Khaire, i/b Ashwini N Bandiwadekar, for Petitioners. Ms Priyanka B Chavan, AGP for Respondents-State. _______ CORAM: G. S. KULKARNI & DR. NEELA GOKHALE, JJ. DATE: 23 SEPTEMBER 2026 P.C. 1. We have heard Mr Vinayak Kumbhar, learned counsel for the Petitioners and Ms Priyanka Chavan, AGP representing the Respondents-State. 2. The only prayer pressed in the Writ Petition is prayer clause (b), which reads thus:- “b] By a suitable writ, order or direction, this Hon'ble Court may be pleased to direct the Respondent No. 3 to immediately decide the proposal dated 25.7.2023 [EXHIBIT-E] submitted by the Petitioner No. 2 seeking individual approval to the Petitioner No. 1 in the regular pay scale in the post of Laboratory Assistant, after having completed approved service of 3 years on monthly honorarium, and accordingly to grant such approval and thereafter to release the grant- in-aid for payment of said salary in pay scale with effect from 01.9.2022 onwards, with all arrears.” Shivgan 409- WP-12614-2026.DOC 3. In the event, such proposal, which is the subject matter of prayer clause (b), is received by Respondent No.3, it would be in the interest of justice that the same is decided as expeditiously as possible and in any event, within a period of four weeks from today. 4. We are inclined to pass the aforesaid order, as the same would not prejudice the rights and contentions of Respondent No.5. 5. Let Petitioner No. 1 appear before Respondent No. 3 on 7th October 2026 at 2.30 p.m. and thereafter, Respondent No.3 shall proceed to hear the parties and decide the proposal in accordance with law. 6. All contentions in that regard are expressly kept open. 7. Disposed of. No costs. (DR. NEELA GOKHALE, J.) (G. S. KULKARNI, J.) Shivgan SHAMBHAVI NILESH SHIVGAN Digitally signed by SHAMBHAVI NILESH SHIVGAN Date: 2026.09.24 15:38:50 +0530