NANHALAL DATTARAM GUPTA Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The present Writ Petition was instituted on 16 th October 2024. However, for reasons not germane at this stage, the Petition has not been taken up for consideration of interim or ad-interim reliefs since its filing. By an order dtd. 28/1/2026, this Court, after hearing the parties at some length, considered it appropriate to direct Respondent No. 3, the Chief Executive Officer of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (CEO/SRA) to file an affidavit in reply dealing with the assertions raised in the Petition on or be- fore 12/2/2026. The matter was accordingly adjourned to 20 th Febru- ary 2026. On that date, however, the matter did not reach hearing. There- after, upon the Petitioners mentioning the matter seeking urgent ad-interim reliefs, the Petition has been placed on today's supplementary board.

(2.) Notwithstanding the aforesaid specific direction, the CEO/SRA has, till date, failed to file an affidavit in reply to the present Writ Petition. Indeed, none of the Respondents have filed their replies. When the matter was called out today, the CEO/SRA once again sought further time to place its affidavit on record. Respondent No. 4Society, however, states that its affi- davit in reply has already been affirmed and seeks leave of this Court to file the same.

(3.) The Petitioners strongly oppose any adjournment of the hearing on this ground. It is submitted on their behalf that considerable time has elapsed since the institution of the present Writ Petition and the Respondents ought to have complied with the earlier directions of this Court by filing their replies well before today. The Petitioners contend that the continued opera- tion of the impugned orders is causing serious prejudice to them and, on that basis, press for urgent consideration of ad-interim reliefs in the present Writ Petition.