Pramod S/O Bicchu Pendam vs State of Maharashtra, Secy., Department of Co-Operative Society, Mumbai and Ors. — Bombay HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Pramod S/O Bicchu Pendam vs State of Maharashtra, Secy., Department of Co-Operative Society, Mumbai and Ors. — Bombay HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Liberty to the petitioner to raise his objection to the inclusion of Smt Malutai Eshtam's name in the voters' list at the time of the election, and liberty to challenge the election after it is conducted on the ground that his objection was not validly taken into consideration; writ petition disposed of with no costs.

Issue for consideration

Whether the High Court should interfere with the election process of APMC, Aheri (election of Chairman scheduled 11/06/2026) on the ground that a Director alleged to be disqualified (Smt Malutai Rama Ishtam) was included in the voters' list.

Court's answer

Following the catena of Hon'ble Apex Court judgments, High Courts should not interfere in the election process once it has commenced; the objectors' remedy is to challenge the election in an election petition before the appropriate forum.

Ratio / Principle

No interference is called for by the High Court in the election process of APMC, Aheri; the writ petition is disposed of with no order as to costs.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Election of Chairman, APMC Aheri (Dist. Gadchiroli), scheduled 11/06/2026 — Writ petition by a Director of respondent No.5-APMC challenging the election programme dated 05/06/2026 (Annexure-E) on the ground that Smt Malutai Rama Ishtam, disqualified by order dated 25/05/2026 of the Assistant Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Aheri (appeal notice dated 01/04/2026 issued by the Divisional Joint Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Nagpur), continued to be included in the voters' list — Held, in view of the catena of Hon'ble Apex Court judgments, High Courts should not interfere in the election process once commenced; the objectors' remedy is an election petition before the appropriate forum — Petitioner at liberty to object to the inclusion of the name at the election and to challenge the election thereafter on the ground that his objection was not validly considered — Writ petition disposed of, no costs.

2026:BHC-NAG:7561-DB

1 101-WP-4572-26.odt

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY, NAGPUR BENCH, AT NAGPUR.

WRIT PETITION NO.4572 OF 2026

Pramod S/o Bicchu Pendam, R/o Village & Post Indaram, Tq. Aheri, Dist. Gadchiroli vs.

State of Maharashtra, Thr. Secretary, Dept. of Co-operative Society, Mantralaya, Mumbai and ors.

Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, Court's or Judge's orders appearances, Court's orders of directions and Registrar's orders

Shri Sandeep N. Singh, Advocate for petitioner.

Ms Tajwar Khan, Assistant Government Pleader for respondent Nos.1 to 3.

CORAM : ANIL S. KILOR AND RAJ D. WAKODE, JJ.

DATED : 11^th June, 2026

Heard Shri Sandeep N. Singh, learned counsel for the petitioner.

The petitioner, who himself is a Director of respondent No.5-APMC, Aheri, District Gandchiroli has approached this Court seeking challenge to the election program dated 05/06/2026 which is at record page 21, Annexure-E.

Perusal of the election program reveals that the election is scheduled today i.e. 11/06/2026 for electing the Chairman of APMC, Aheri.

Shri S. N. Singh, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that though Director Smt Malutai Rama Ishtam is disqualified, still her name is included in the voters’ list as one of the Director. He has invited our attention to the notice dated 01/04/2026 issued by the Divisional Joint Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Nagpur in an appeal filed for her disqualification so also the order dated 25/05/2026 passed by the Assistant Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Aheri disqualifying Smt Malutai Rama Ishtam and others.

2 101-WP-4572-26.odt

In view of the above, the petitioner has approached this Court seeking setting aside the entire election process.

It has emphatically made clear by the Hon’ble Apex Court of India in catanae of judgments that the High Courts should not interfere in the election process once it is commenced. The objectors always have a remedy of challenging the same in the election petition before the appropriate forum. Though the petitioner has objection to the inclusion of the name of aforesaid Director Smt Malutai Eshtam in the voters’ list, today the election is scheduled at 1 pm. and the petitioner shall be at liberty to raise his objection to the aforesaid inclusion of her name in the voter’s list. The election once conducted, the petitioner is always at liberty to challenge the same on the ground that his objection was not validly taken into consideration.

In view of the above, no interference is called for in the aforesaid election process at the hand of this Court and accordingly the writ petition is disposed of. No costs.

Asmita

Signed by: Smt. Asmita A. Bhandakkar Designation: PS To Honourable Judge Date: 12/06/2026 10:59:02