varsha 5-cp-513-2026.doc IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 512 OF 2026 IN WRIT PETITION NO.11507 OF 2024 Vikas Ramvilas Mundhada .. Petitioner V/S. The State of Maharashtra Through The Principal Secretary, Urban Development Department .. Respondent WITH CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 513 OF 2026 IN WRIT PETITION NO.11507 OF 2024 Shekhar Ramvilas Mundhada .. Petitioner V/S. The State of Maharashtra Through The Principal Secretary, Urban Development Department .. Respondent WITH CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 541 OF 2026 IN WRIT PETITION NO.8706 OF 2025 WITH CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 540 OF 2026 IN WRIT PETITION NO.8158 OF 2025 Major Ravindra Shankar Bhatnagar Retd. .. Petitioner V/S. The State of Maharashtra Through The Principal Secretary, Urban Development Department .. Respondent 1 of 5 VARSHA DEEPAK GAIKWAD Digitally signed by VARSHA DEEPAK GAIKWAD Date: 2026.10.16 17:18:23 +0530 varsha 5-cp-513-2026.doc WITH CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 542 OF 2026 IN WRIT PETITION NO.8160 OF 2025 Mr Ramanand Ganeshlalji Modani .. Petitioner V/S. The State of Maharashtra Through The Principal Secretary, Urban Development Department .. Respondent ------------------- Dr. Ramdas P. Sabban with Pravin Sabban, Shrikant Kompelli, Rohit Chitiken, for petitioners in all CPs. Mr. B.V Samant, Addl. G.P. with V.R. Raje, AGP, for the State in CP/512/2026. Mr. B.V. Samant, Addl. G.P. with Ketan Joshi ' B' Panel, for the State in CP/513/2026. Mr. B.V. Samant, Addl. G.P. with P.M.J. Deshpande, AGP, for the State in CP/541/2026. Mr. B.V. Samant, Addl. G.P. with S.P. Kamble,AGP, for the State in CP/540/2026. Ms. Neha Bhide, AGP with B.V. Samant, Addl. G.P. and M.S. Bane, AGP, for the State in CP/542/2026. Mr. Abhijit Kulkarni with Abhishek Roy, Sweta Shah, Gourav Shahane, Shreyas Sarkar, for respondent No. 3-PMC. -------------------- CORAM : MANISH PITALE & SHREERAM V. SHIRSAT, JJ. DATE : 16TH OCTOBER 2026. PC: 1. Heard learned counsel for the petitioners. 2. These contempt petitions have been filed alleging violation of directions issued by this Court in orders passed in the month of May 2 of 5 varsha 5-cp-513-2026.doc 2025 in writ petitions filed by the petitioners. 3. Since identical orders were passed, the order passed in writ petition No. 11507 of 2024 dated 07.05.2025 is being reproduced hereinbelow. "1. Mr. Sabban, learned counsel for the petitioner places on record communication dated 12 September 2024 addressed by the Land Acquisition and Management (Pune Municipal Corporation) to the Collector stating that the property bearing Survey No.55/1/B would be acquired. 2. Accordingly, Mr. Sabban submits that this petition could be disposed of by directing the State Government/SLAO to consider the Corporation’s proposal and initiate acquisition proceedings expeditiously. We direct the State Government to consider the Corporation’s proposal in accordance with law for initiation of acquisition proceedings and payment of compensation. All these should be done expeditiously and preferably within one year from the date of uploading this order. 3. Petition is disposed of in the above terms." 4. The petitioners allege that despite this Court indicating that the acquisition proceedings shall be undertaken expeditiously and compensation shall be paid to the petitioners preferably within one year from the date of uploading of such orders, no effective steps have been taken by the respondents forcing the petitioners to approach this Court by filing these contempt petitions. 5. Respondent Nos. 2 and 4 being the State authorities filed their reply affidavits and recently, respondent No. 3 Municipal Corporation also filed its reply affidavit. 6. A perusal of the said reply affidavits shows that the proposal 3 of 5 varsha 5-cp-513-2026.doc dated 03.07.2017 for acquisition, with which these petitions are concerned, required the respondents to take expeditious steps in terms of the directions issued by this Court. 7. It is brought to our notice that the respondent-Municipal Corporation deposited 30% of the proposed compensation payable to the land owners like the petitioners on 27.03.2026. 8. Although the said step ought to have been taken earlier in the light of the direction issued by this Court, upon the said amount being deposited, further steps appear to have been taken by the respondent number 4, Special Land Acquisition Officer. 9. It is further brought to our notice that during the course of undertaking further steps for acquisition of the subject lands, spot inspection and measurement was necessitated due to certain defects found in the existing records. 10. This is evident from a letter dated 21.09.2026 addressed by the Deputy Superintendent of Land Record, Haveli, to the respondent No. 4, Special Land Acquisition Officer. 11. It appears that though belatedly, the respondents have taken steps and that since they have stated in their reply affidavits that further steps will be taken expeditiously, this Court can dispose of the present contempt petitions by issuing specific directions so that the entire exercise of completing the acquisition proceedings and disbursement of compensation to the petitioners is ensured at the earliest. 4 of 5 varsha 5-cp-513-2026.doc 12. In the light of the exercise contemplated and the material brought to the notice of this Court on behalf of the respondents, it would be appropriate that the contempt petitions are disposed of by fixing an outer limit for the respondents to complete the entire exercise indicated herein-above. 13. In view of the above, the contempt petitions are disposed of by directing the respondents to ensure that the process of acquisition of subject lands of the petitioners is completed and compensation is disbursed to the petitioners on or before 31.08.2027. 14. In order to ensure that the said time limit is honoured, the respondent No. 4-SLAO is directed to forthwith lay down a schedule and communicate the same to the respondent-Municipal Corporation also, so that the direction is complied with. 15. We are assured that the respondent No. 4-Special Land Acquisition Officer shall take into account all relevant factors while determining the quantum of compensation. (SHREERAM V. SHIRSAT, J.) (MANISH PITALE, J.) 5 of 5