Ankush Rama Nalapalle vs the State of Maharashtra — Bombay HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Ankush Rama Nalapalle vs the State of Maharashtra — Bombay HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

In light of the State's undertaking, the contempt petition stands disposed of; the respondent–Scrutiny Committee is to hear the tribe claim on 04.02.2026 (petitioner free to file reply and argue the same day) and pass the final order on its own merits in accordance with law on or before 27.02.2026, failing which the non-compliance will be treated as an aggravated contempt.

Issue for consideration

Whether the respondents were in contempt of the Court's direction dated 26.06.2025 in Writ Petition No.7644/2025 by failing to decide the petitioner's tribe claim within the stipulated period. +1 more

Court's answer

The Court made it clear that if the undertaking (final order on the tribe claim by 27.02.2026) is not complied with, the non-compliance will be treated as an aggravated contempt.

Ratio / Principle

The Court accepted the learned AGP's submission as an undertaking given to it that, if the tribe claim matter is heard on 04.02.2026, the respondent–Scrutiny Committee will pass the final order on its own merits in accordance with law on or before 27.02.2026.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Contempt Petition No. 10 of 2026 in WP/6995/2020 (Bombay High Court, Aurangabad Bench; Sandipkumar C. More & Abasaheb D. Shinde, JJ., per curiam; 20.01.2026): Filed against the State of Maharashtra for non-decision of the petitioner Ankush Rama Nalapalle's tribe claim despite the Court's direction dated 26.06.2025 in Writ Petition No.7644/2025 that it be decided within a stipulated period. The learned AGP tendered unconditional apology, reported that the vigilance cell inquiry had concluded with its report served on the petitioner, and gave an undertaking that, if the tribe claim is heard on 04.02.2026, the respondent–Scrutiny Committee will pass the final order on its own merits in accordance with law on or before 27.02.2026. The Court accepted the undertaking, warned that non-compliance would be treated as an aggravated contempt, and disposed of the contempt petition.

2026:BHC-AUG:2910-DB

1 938.CP.10.26.odt

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY BENCH AT AURANGABAD

CONT. PETITION NO. 10 OF 2026 IN WP/6995/2020

ANKUSH RAMA NALAPALLE VERSUS THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

... Advocate for the Petitioner : Mr. Vishal Vikram Ghansawdh h/f. Mr. Mohanish Thorat AGP for Respondents: Mr. P.K. Lakhotiya

CORAM : SANDIPKUMAR C. MORE & ABASAHEB D. SHINDE, JJ. DATE : 20.01.2026

PER COURT:

Pursuant to the direction issued by this Court on 26.06.2025 in Writ Petition No.7644/2025, the tribe claim of the petitioner was directed to be decided within a stipulated period.

Despite such directions its almost five years thereafter that the tribe claim of the petitioner has not been decided and, therefore, this Contempt Petition.

Learned AGP at the outset tender unconditional apology on behalf of the contemnor and submits that the vigilance cell inquiry has been concluded and the vigilance cell enquiry report has already been submitted and even the copy of the same has been served on the petitioner. He would submit that the proceedings of tribe claim are posted for filing reply to the said vigilance cell

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report and if the petitioner desire to file reply, the petitioner may file the same and can argue the matter on 04.02.2026 itself.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that if possible after filing reply on 04.02.2026, the petitioner may also argue the matter on the same day itself.

Learned AGP on instructions submits that in case the matter is heard on 04.02.2026 the respondent – Scrutiny Committee will pass the final order on its own merits in accordance with law in any case on or before 27.02.2026. We accept the said submission as undertaking given to this Court. We make it clear that if this order is not complied with, the same will be treated as an aggravated contempt. In the light of said undertaking the contempt petition stands disposed of.

(ABASAHEB D. SHINDE, J.) (SANDIPKUMAR C. MORE, J.)

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