Contempt Notice Issued to Maharashtra UDD Secretary by Nagpur Bench of Bombay HC
The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has taken a significant step by issuing a contempt notice to Maharashtra Urban Development Department (UDD) Principal Secretary Aseem Gupta. This action comes after the court heard a contempt petition filed by Jaibai Karkade and others, who alleged that Gupta had failed to comply with the court’s directives issued on July 26.
A division bench comprising Justices Avinash Gharote and Urmila Joshi-Phalke has directed the UDD secretary to respond to the notice before the court resumes work after the Diwali vacation on November 28. The petitioners, represented by counsels Avinash Kapgate, Poonam Moon, and Shraddha Buddhe, had approached the High Court seeking a declaration that the reservation regarding 91 hectares of land in Mul town, Chandrapur, had lapsed as per Section 127 of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act.
In its earlier ruling, the High Court ordered the government to declare that the reservation on the petitioners’ land had lapsed under the provisions of the MRTP Act. The then division bench of Justices Rohit Deo and Anil Pansare stated on July 26, The state government shall publish the notification in the official gazette within the next four weeks.
The petitioner claimed ownership of the land in question and requested the removal of the land reservation through a government resolution. However, the development plan for Mul town in Chandrapur approved on December 15, 2001, once again designated the subject land as a reserve for a garden, challenging the petitioners’ claims.
The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has taken note of this matter and issued a contempt notice to Maharashtra UDD Secretary Aseem Gupta for allegedly failing to comply with the court’s earlier directives. The court has given him time to respond before resumption of proceedings on November 28 after the Diwali vacation.
The case deals with the lapsed reservation on 91 hectares of land in Mul town, Chandrapur, and the petitioners’ claim of ownership. The High Court had previously ordered the declaration of the reservation lapsing under the MRTP Act, with the government expected to publish the notification accordingly. Now, the court will review Gupta’s response and proceed accordingly.
The decision of the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court to issue a contempt notice highlights the importance of compliance with court directives. The case will continue to be closely watched as it unfolds, and further developments can be expected after the court resumes work in late November.
