Shrikant Krushna Bhasme vs Delstar Private Limited — Bombay HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Shrikant Krushna Bhasme vs Delstar Private Limited — Bombay HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Contempt petition disposed of with no further contempt action; undertaking of the Sub-Divisional Officer, Wai, to execute the recovery certificate on or before 30th June 2026 accepted by the Court; Petitioners left free to challenge the order dated 9th March 2026 before the competent forum with all contentions expressly kept open; petition listed on 13th July 2026 'for reporting Compliance'.

Issue for consideration

Whether Respondent Nos. 8 to 13 complied with this Court's order dated 16th June 2025 in Writ Petition No. 5381 of 2025 directing that the recovery proceedings for payment of dues of salary and wages be decided within 10 weeks. +2 more

Court's answer

The timeframe of 10 weeks fixed under the order dated 16th June 2025 for deciding the recovery proceedings came to an end on 31st August 2025.

Ratio / Principle

There was delay in deciding the recovery proceedings, as they were directed to be disposed of within 10 weeks of the order dated 16th June 2025 but the timeframe expired on 31st August 2025.

Key takeaways

As the recovery proceedings are decided, though belatedly, and unconditional apology has been tendered for such delay, no further action needs to be taken in this contempt petition.ratio¶26
The statement made in Court by Mr. Yogesh Bhimrao Kharmate, Sub-Divisional Officer, Wai, District Satara, that the recovery certificate will be executed on or before 30th June 2026, was accepted by this Court as an undertaking given to it.ratio¶32
On the submissions regarding the correctness of the order dated 9th March 2026 passed in the recovery proceedings, the Petitioners are at liberty to challenge that order before the competent forum, and all contentions in that respect are expressly kept open.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Bombay High Court (Kolhapur Circuit Bench), Contempt Petition No. 612 of 2025 - disposed of on March 10, 2026 (Madhav J. Jamdar & Pravin S. Patil, JJ.). Petition alleged non-compliance with this Court's order dated 16th June 2025 in Writ Petition No. 5381 of 2025, which directed Respondent Nos. 8 to 13 to decide recovery proceedings for payment of dues of salary and wages within 10 weeks (timeframe ended 31st August 2025). The recovery proceedings were ultimately decided belatedly: by order dated 9th March 2026 the Assistant Labour Commissioner, Satara directed recovery of Rs.8,57,657/- @10% p.a. from the date of filing of application, as per order dated 14th March 2017. Unconditional apologies were tendered by Mr. Nitin Krishna Kavale, Assistant Commissioner of Labour, Satara (affidavit dated 22nd December 2025) and by Mr. Yogesh Bhimrao Kharmate, Sub-Divisional Officer, Wai (affidavit stating the entire recovery procedure would be completed within 3 months). The Court held that, the proceedings being decided (though belatedly) and apologies tendered, no further action was required in the contempt petition; it accepted Mr. Kharmate's in-Court statement that the recovery certificate will be executed on or before 30th June 2026 as an undertaking given to the Court; it expressly kept open the Petitioners' liberty to challenge the 9th March 2026 order before the competent forum; and it listed the petition for 13th July 2026 under the caption 'for reporting Compliance'. The text notes this is the corrected order as per the speaking-to-the-minutes order dated 29-4-2026 passed in IA No. 567 of 2026.

905 cp-612-2025.doc

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 612 OF 2025

Shrikant Krushna Bhasme and Others. Versus Delstar Private Limited and Others.

...Petitioners.

...Respondents.

Ms. Shama Mulla for the Petitioner. Mr. A. P. Vanarase, AGP for the Respondent-State.

——————

Coram : Madhav J. Jamdar & Pravin S. Patil, JJ. Date : March 10, 2026.

P. C. :

1. This contempt petition has been iled contending that order 16^th

June 2025 passed by this Court in Writ Petition No. 5381 of 2025 has not

been complied with. The said order reads as under :

“1. The issue in this Petition is regarding payment of dues of salary and wages. It is the grievance of the Petitioners that the recovery proceedings iled by the Petitioners for the payment of dues of salary and wages before the Respondent Nos. 8 to 13 is not being decided.

The Petition is disposed of by directing the Respondent Nos. 8 to 13 to decide the recovery proceedings iled by the Petitioners for payment of dues of salary and wages within a period of 10 weeks from today.

Copy of the order be communicated forthwith to the Respondent Nos. 8 to 13.”

2. Thus, by the said order dated 16^th June 2025, writ petition was

disposed by directing Respondent Nos.8 to 13 to decide the recovery

[This is the Corrected order as per speaking to the minutes order dated 29-4-2026 passed in IA No. 567 of 2026.] Patil-SR 1 of 3

905 cp-612-2025.doc

proceedings iled by the Petitioners within a time-frame of 10 weeks.

3. Learned AGP submits that by order dated 9^th March 2026, the Assistant Labour Commissioner, Satara has directed that as per order dated 14^th March 2017, an amount of Rs.8,57,657/- be recovered @10% p.a. from the date of iling of application.

4. By the order dated 16^th June 2025, the recovery proceedings were directed to be disposed of within a period of 10 weeks, which timeframe came to an end on 31^st August 2025. Thus, there is delay in deciding the said recovery proceedings.

5. In the previous aidavit dated 22^nd December 2025, Mr. Nitin Krishna Kavale, Assistant Commissioner of Labour, Satara has tendered unconditional apology.

6. As recovery proceedings are decided, though belatedly and unconditional apology has been tendered for such delay, no further action needs to be taken in this contempt petition.

7. It is also required to be noted that in the aidavit iled by Mr. Yogesh Bhimrao Kharmate, Sub-Divisional Oicer, Wai, District Satara, it is stated that within a period of 3 months, the entire recovery procedure will be followed and he has also tendered unconditional apology.

8. Mr. Yogesh Bhimrao Kharmate, the Sub-Divisional Oicer, Wai, District Satara is personally present in Court and states that on or before

30^th June 2026, the said recovery certiicate will be executed. The

[This is the Corrected order as per speaking to the minutes order dated 29-4-2026 passed in IA No. 567 of 2026.] Patil-SR 2 of 3

905 cp-612-2025.doc

statement is accepted as an undertaking given to this Court.

9. Certain submissions have been advanced by Ms. Shama Mulla, learned Counsel appearing for the Petitioners regarding the correctness of the order dated 9^th March 2026 passed in the recovery proceedings. The Petitioners are at liberty to challenge the said order, if they so desire, before the competent forum. All contention in that respect are expressly kept open.

10. In the light of above, contempt petition is disposed of. However, to ensure the compliance of undertaking given to this Court today that recovery certiicate will be executed on or before 30^th June 2026, list the contempt petition on 13^th July 2026. To be placed under the caption “for reporting Compliance”.

[Pravin S. Patil, J.] [Madhav J. Jamdar, J.]

[This is the Corrected order as per speaking to the minutes order dated 29-4-2026 passed in IA No. 567 of 2026.] 3 of 3

Patil-SR