Prakashjhot Samajik Sanstha Thr. Its President Vikas Parshuram Patil v. Union of India Thr. the Secretary Ministry of Civil Aviation and Ors.
Case brief
What is this about?
Bombay High Court, PIL No. 108 of 2025, decided 04-11-2025 (Shree Chandrashekhar, CJ and Gautam A. Ankhad, J.). Petitioner Prakashjhot Samajik Sanstha (through President Vikas Parshuram Patil), represented by Ranjeet Unnikrishnan Nair, sought mandamus directing the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation to decide Maharashtra's proposal to rename Navi Mumbai International Airport after Lokneta D.B. Patil. Court held an Article 226 court cannot direct acceptance of a mere proposal (an expression of intention) and mandamus requires a legally enforceable right and corresponding undischarged duty; petition dismissed. Keywords: mandamus, Article 226, renaming of Navi Mumbai International Airport, Lokneta D.B. Patil, PIL maintainability, locus standi, Ministry of Civil Aviation, State of Maharashtra.
What did the court decide?
A writ Court exercising jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India has no power to issue a direction to the Ministry of Civil Aviation to accept the proposal moved by the State of Maharashtra.