Amratlal Gokal Solanki and Anr. vs the Union of India Throu.Its Sec. Ministry of External Affair and Ors. — Bombay HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Amratlal Gokal Solanki and Anr. vs the Union of India Throu.Its Sec. Ministry of External Affair and Ors. — Bombay HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Directions to respondent no.4-Deputy Director General of Shipping, Mumbai to collect the mortal remains of Dixit Amratlal Solanki in the presence of a family member, send them to the Director of Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), Kalina, Santacruz East, Mumbai for DNA testing, and supply a copy of the DNA test report to a petitioner blood relative.

Issue for consideration

Whether directions should issue for collection of the mortal remains of Dixit Amratlal Solanki by respondent no.4 (Deputy Director General of Shipping, Mumbai) and their transmission to CFSL, Kalina, Santacruz East, Mumbai for DNA testing. +1 more

Court's answer

The Court directed respondent no.4-Deputy Director General of Shipping, Mumbai to collect the mortal remains of Dixit Amratlal Solanki in the presence of a family member, who shall sign necessary papers to complete technical formalities, and to send them to the Director of Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), Kalina, Santacruz East, Mumbai under proper care for obtaining the DNA test report.

Ratio / Principle

After receipt of the DNA testing report, respondent no.4 shall supply a copy thereof to one of the petitioners who are blood relatives of Dixit Amratlal Solanki.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

High Court of Judicature at Bombay (Shree Chandrashekhar, CJ & Gautam A. Ankhad, J.) disposed of Writ Petition No.4294 of 2026 filed by Amratlal Gokal Solanki & Anr., blood relatives of the deceased Dixit Amratlal Solanki, concerning the dignified handling and repatriation of his mortal remains. Pursuant to the Court's order dated 6th April 2026, the Director General of Shipping tendered letters dated 6th April 2026 addressed to the Director General of Police Mumbai, Commissioner of Police Mumbai and the Director of Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), Hyderabad, and is monitoring and coordinating with stakeholders including the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian missions. The Union of India stated the mortal remains are in the custody of John Pinto International, Byculla, Mumbai, and that a DNA test can be conducted once the remains are collected by the family. The Court directed respondent no.4, the Deputy Director General of Shipping, Mumbai, to collect the mortal remains in the presence of a family member, send them to CFSL Kalina, Santacruz East, Mumbai for DNA testing, and supply a copy of the DNA report to a petitioner blood relative.

922.4294.26-wp.docx

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

WRIT PETITION NO.4294 OF 2026

Digitally signed by BASAVRAJ BASAVRAJ GURAPPA GURAPPA PATIL PATIL Date: 2026.04.08 10:12:46 +0530

Amratlal Gokal Solanki & Anr. .. Petitioners

Vs.

The Union of India & Ors. .. Respondents

...

Ms. Pradnya Talekar (through VC) with Mr. Yogesh Morey and Mr. Ganesh Anuraj i/b. Talekar & Associates, Advocates for the Petitioners

Mr. Rui Rodrigues i/b. Shreekrishna Khairnar, Advocates for Respondent Nos.1 to 4-UoI

Mr. Prathamesh Kamat, Mr. Kayush Zaiwalla and Ms.Sanika Kulkarni i/b. Mr. Adil Patel, Advocates for Respondent No.5.

CORAM : SHREE CHANDRASHEKHAR, CJ & GAUTAM A. ANKHAD, J.

DATE : 7^th APRIL 2026

P.C. :

Pursuant to the order dated 6^th April 2026, three letters written by the Director General of Shipping & Additional Secretary to the Government of India dated 6^th April 2026 addressed to the Director General of Police, Mumbai, Commissioner of Police, Mumbai and the Director of Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), Hyderabad have been tendered in the Court. It is stated that the Director General of Shipping is closely monitoring the matter and is coordinating with all the concerned stakeholders, including the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Indian missions and the company to ensure the dignified handling and repatriation of the mortal remains.

Mr. Rui Rodrigues, the learned counsel for the respondentUnion of India states that the mortal remains are presently in the

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custody of the John Pinto International, Byculla, Mumbai. There is a description of the contact person of that entity and contact numbers are also provided in the aforementioned communication. The learned counsel for the Union of India states that necessary DNA test can be conducted once the mortal remains are collected by the family members.

In view thereof, we hereby direct the respondent no.4-Deputy Director General of Shipping, Mumbai to collect the mortal remains in presence of any one of the family members of Dixit Amratlal Solanki who shall receive the same by signing necessary papers to complete the technical formalities and send it to the Director of Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), Kalina, Santacruz East, Mumbai under proper care for obtaining DNA test report thereof. After receipt of the DNA testing report the respondent no.4 shall supply a copy thereof to one of the petitioners who are blood relatives of Dixit Amratlal Solanki.

With the aforesaid directions, Writ Petition No.4294 of 2026 is disposed of.

[GAUTAM A. ANKHAD, J.]

[CHIEF JUSTICE]

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