Ratnamala Alias Gauri Bhagwan Wadghule vs The State Of Maharashtra

Bombay High Court

Ratnamala Alias Gauri Bhagwan Wadghule vs The State Of Maharashtra on 18 May, 2026

                                                                  2.WPST.14694.2026.odt



                  IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                             BENCH AT AURANGABAD

                    WRIT PETITION (STAMP) NO. 14694 OF 2026

Mahendrasingh Dilipsingh Thakur                                ...Petitioner

         Versus

The Joint Charity Commissioner and Another                     ...Respondents

                                ***
Mr. Mrigesh D. Narwadkar, Advocate for the Petitioner.
Mr. R. S. Wani, AGP for Respondent - State.
                                ***

                                        CORAM : SIDDHESHWAR S. THOMBRE, J.

(VACATION COURT) DATE : MAY 18, 2026 PER COURT :

1. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner.

2. Issue notice to the Respondents, returnable on 18th June 2026.

3. Mr. Wani, learned AGP waives service of notice on behalf of Respondent No.1.

4. It is the contention of the learned counsel for the Petitioner that the learned Returning Officer has not included the names of the active and general members, who were enrolled by following the due process of law, and has included only the names of life members in the voters' list.

2.WPST.14694.2026.odt

5. I have gone through the copy of the bye-laws. There is no dispute that the active and general members also have a right to participate in the election, being members of the society. It further appears that, after the election held in the year 2018, the list of members enrolled up to the year 2018 was required to be taken into consideration.

6. I have perused the copies of the receipts and other relevant records, which prima facie reveal that the active and general members, who have paid/submitted the membership fees, are required to be enrolled as members and their names ought to have been included in the voters' list. However, the learned Returning Officer has included only the names of life members.

7. In view thereof, I am inclined to grant interim relief in terms of prayer clause (d), which read as under :

"D. During the pendency and final disposal of this Writ Petition, the elections to the executive committee of the Trust - Shri Kshtriya Samaj, Nanded (Reg) F-11, Nanded may kindly be stayed."

8. Accordingly, there shall be interim relief in terms of prayer clause (d).

( SIDDHESHWAR S. THOMBRE, J. ) Shrikant Malani Page 2 of 2