908-WP-5369-2026 (C).doc IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 5369 OF 2026 Mithun Ram Pawar And Another ...Petitioners V/s. Deputy Charity Commissioner, Solapur And Others ...Respondents … Mr. I. M. Khairadi, Advocate for the Petitioner. Mr. Ajit V. Alange, Advocate for Respondents No. 5 and 6. … CORAM : ABHAY AHUJA & NEERAJ P. DHOTE, JJ. DATE : 14th October, 2026 P.C. : 1. When the matter is called out, Mr. Khairadi, learned Counsel appears for the Petitioners and submits that surprisingly, the Secretary of the Trust has appointed his wife, the Respondent No. 6 as the Election Officer of the election which is to be conducted as per the Election Program on page 29 of the Petition. That today, from 12 noon to 2.00 p.m. the Election Officer would be scrutinizing the nomination papers. That, this Court may therefore, intervene in the matter. 2. Mr. Alange, learned Counsel appearing for the Respondents No. 5 and 6 viz. the Trust as well as the wife of the Secretary who has been Mandar M. 1/3 908-WP-5369-2026 (C).doc appointed as the Election Officer submits that since this is a Trust of a particular community, most of the members would be related to each other however submitting that if this Court appoints an independent officer, Respondent No. 5 has no objection. 3. Mr. Khairadi suggests the name of Mr. Asif Nazir Sheikh, Inspector in the Deputy Charity Commissioner’s Office, Solapur Region, Solapur to be appointed as the Election Officer in place of the Respondent No.6. 4. Mr. Alange, learned Counsel appearing for Respondents No. 5 and 6 has no objection. 5. It is also submitted by the learned Counsel appearing in the matter that since the timing for the scrutiny that is to be conducted today is between 12 noon to 2.00 p.m. and since we are close to 12.45 p.m., this Court may accordingly extend the time period. 6. Having heard the learned Counsel and having considered the submissions, this Court appoints Mr. Asif Nazir Sheikh, Inspector in the Deputy Charity Commissioner’s Office, Solapur Region, Solapur to act as Election Officer for the Election Program with respect to the election of the Office Bearers of the Respondent No. 5 as per the Election Program annexed at page 29 to the Petition. Mandar M. 2/3 908-WP-5369-2026 (C).doc 7. The Election Officer so appointed to conduct the scrutiny from 1.00 p.m. to 3.00 p.m. today. Except the aforesaid change, the Election Program at page 29 of the Petition to continue from stage – 5 onwards. 8. The Writ Petition to accordingly stand disposed as above. 9. All concerned to act on an uploaded copy of this order. 10. Learned AGP is requested to inform the concerned authorities about the same as soon as possible. (NEERAJ P. DHOTE, J.) (ABHAY AHUJA, J.) Mandar M. 3/3