SURENDRA NARAYAN KULKARNI vs CHARITY COMMISSIONER,, MAHARASHTRA STATE — IA/2378/2026

Case under Public Trusts Registration Act (Maharashtra) Section 1. Disposed: Contested--DISPOSED OFF on 23rd April 2026.

CNR: HCBM020133732026

CASE DISPOSED

Filing Number

IA/13373/2026

Filing Date

16-04-2026

Registration No

IA/2378/2026

Registration Date

28-04-2026

Judge

HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE FARHAN PARVEZ DUBASH

Coram

HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE FARHAN PARVEZ DUBASH

Bench Type

Single

Category

ELECTION ( 12 )

Sub-Category

OTHERS ( 99 )

Judicial Branch

Original

Decision Date

23rd April 2026

Nature of Disposal

Contested--DISPOSED OFF

Acts & Sections

Public Trusts Registration Act (Maharashtra) Section 1

Petitioner(s)

SURENDRA NARAYAN KULKARNI

Adv. VIKRAM N WALAWALKAR,VIKRAM N WALAWALKAR,VIKRAM N WALAWALKAR, ,VIKRAM N WALAWALKAR

VIVEK VASANT GANPULE

Adv. VIKRAM N WALAWALKAR

Respondent(s)

CHARITY COMMISSIONER,, MAHARASHTRA STATE

THE ASIATIC SOCIETY OF MUMBAI THROUGH ITS PRESIDENT

PRASAD AKOLKAR RETURNING OFFICER / ELECTION OFFICER

STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THROUGH ASSISTANT GOVERNMENT PLEADER

KUMAR CHINTAMAN KETKAR (ORG. PETITIONER NO.

VISHWAS RAMCHANDRA UTAGI (ORG. PETITIONER NO.

DHANANJAY RAMKRISHNA SHINDE (ORG. PETITIONER NO.

SWATI RAJENDRA DATYE (ORG. PETITIONER NO.

Hearing History

Judge: HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE FARHAN PARVEZ DUBASH

17-04-2026

FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION

Orders

23-04-2026
HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE FARHAN PARVEZ DUBASH

Case Summary: IA/2378/2026 Court Decision: The Bombay High Court dismissed both writ petitions challenging the Charity Commissioner's March 13, 2026 orders, upholding the Commissioner's authority to intervene in The Asiatic Society of Mumbai's affairs. Key Reasoning: The court found that the Managing Committee and Scrutinising Committee acted ultra vires after their tenures expired in September 2025, including approving 1,467 unapproved membership applications. The Charity Commissioner properly conducted inquiries following legislative questions, provided adequate hearings to affected parties, and lawfully exercised powers under the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act to constitute an interim management committee and supervise fresh elections within prescribed timelines. This case analysis is maintained by casestatus.in based on publicly available court records.

casestatus.in Summary

Case Summary: IA/2378/2026 Court Decision: The Bombay High Court dismissed both writ petitions challenging the Charity Commissioner's March 13, 2026 orders, upholding the Commissioner's authority to intervene in The Asiatic Society of Mumbai's affairs. Key Reasoning: The court found that the Managing Committee and Scrutinising Committee acted ultra vires after their tenures expired in September 2025, including approving 1,467 unapproved membership applications. The Charity Commissioner properly conducted inquiries following legislative questions, provided adequate hearings to affected parties, and lawfully exercised powers under the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act to constitute an interim management committee and supervise fresh elections within prescribed timelines. This case analysis is maintained by casestatus.in based on publicly available court records.

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