SANTOSH RAMCHANDRA BALKAWADE vs STATE OF MAHA. THR. CHIEF SEC. AND ORS

Judgment text excerpt

WP 8296-23.DOC LAXMI SUBHASH SONTAKKE IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY Digitally signed CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION by LAXMI SUBHASH SONTAKKE Date: 2025.12.24 19:36:23 +0530 WRIT PETITION NO. 8296 OF 2023 Yogesh Kamlakar Mangle & Anr. ...Petitioners Vs The State of Maharashtra & Ors. ...Respondents WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 10143 OF 2023 Santosh Ramchandra Balkawade ...Petitioner Vs The State of Maharashtra & Ors. ...Respondents WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 13025 OF 2023 Maruti Shivram Jaykar & Ors. ...Petitioners Vs The State of Maharashtra & Ors. ...Respondents WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 16778 OF 2023 Kamlakar Raghunath Ahirrao ...Petitioner Vs The State of Maharashtra & Ors. ...Respondents WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 16779 OF 2023 Govind Poslya Gavit ...Petitioner Vs The State of Maharashtra & Ors. ...Respondents _________ Mr. Eknath Dhokale with Ms. Darshna Kamble for Petitioners in WP 8296/23 & WP 13025/23. Mr. Gaurav Potnis with Ms. Payal Patil i/b. Ms. Pallavi H. Potnis for Petitioner in WP 10143/23. Mr. Vijay Patil, Senior Advocate with Mr. Yogesh Patil for Respondent/MSRDC in WP 8296/23, WP 13025/23 & WP 10143/23. Dr. Birendra Saraf, Advocate General with Mr. Sachit Bhogle, ‘B’ Panel Counsel and Ms. M. S. Bane, AGP for State. Mr. Rakesh Singh i/b. M. V. Kini & Co. for Respondent No.3/NHAI in WP 16779/2023. 24th December 2025 1 Laxmi WP 8296-23.DOC __________ CORAM: G. S. KULKARNI & AARTI SATHE, JJ. DATE: 24th DECEMBER 2025. Judgment (Per Aarti Sathe, J.) :- 1. This is a batch of writ petitions which raise common issue of law and fact. They are accordingly being disposed of by this common judgment. 2. The challenge in these petitions is primarily to a circular dated 24 th January 2023 (hereinafter referred to as the “impugned circular”) issued by the State Government th