PIL challenged a non-refundable Rs.1,25,000 nomination fee fixed by the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa for contesting its elections. The petitioner sought withdrawal since elections had been held and the challenge was infructuous. The court allowed withdrawal and disposed of the PIL.
This page shows the compact analysis of this judgement. The full analysis — procedural history, issue-by-issue holdings with ratio and obiter, advocates, and paragraph-level evidence for every claim — is being added to the record in batches and will appear here when this judgement has been through it.
902-15-2026-PIL(C)=.doc
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION NO. 15 OF 2026
Digitally signed by UDAY UDAY SHIVAJI SHIVAJI JAGTAP JAGTAP Date:2026.04.10 15:16:51 +0530
Chirag Rajendra Sonecha … Petitioner Versus Chairman Of Bar Council Of Maharashtra and Goa … Respondent
Mr. Chirag R.Sonecha for the Petitioner. Mr. Siddeshwar B. Kalel, AGP for the Respondent - State.
CORAM : MADHAV J. JAMDAR & PRAVIN S. PATIL, JJ.
DATE : 10th APRIL, 2026.
P. C. :
1. The Petitioner, who appears in person has filed a Praecipe dated 9th
April 2026 seeking withdrawal of the Public Interest Litigation.
2. In the Public Interest Litigation, challenge is to the action of the Bar Council of Maharashtra for fixing a non-refundable nomination fee of Rs.1,25,000/- for filing nomination to contest in the election of the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa. The Petitioner submits that as the elections have been conducted, challenge in this PIL has become infructuous.
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Uday S. Jagtap
902-15-2026-PIL(C)=.doc
3. Accordingly, the Public Interest Litigation is allowed to be withdrawn and disposed of as such.
[PRAVIN S. PATIL, J. ]
[MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.]
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Uday S. Jagtap
1 issue framed by the court
Whether the PIL challenging the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa's non-refundable nomination fee of Rs.1,25,000/- should be permitted to be withdrawn as infructuous after the elections were conducte
Chirag Rajendra Sonecha
Chairman Of Bar Council Of Maharashtra and Goa
Madhav J. Jamdar
Pravin S. Patil
As recorded by the court registry
Litigation brought on behalf of the public interest rather than a personal grievance, relaxing the usual rule of locus standi.
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
