1/8 18-wp-1875-2026 Forest matters.doc IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION (SR. NO. 18) WRIT PETITION NO. 1875 OF 2026 Tushar Chintamani Mengale & Ors. .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 18) WRIT PETITION NO. 1879 OF 2026 Bhimsen Pandurang Jadhav & Ors. .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra Thr Its Secretary Forest & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 18) WRIT PETITION NO. 1877 OF 2026 Shripati Rama Patil & Ors. .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra Thru. Secretary & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 18) WRIT PETITION NO. 2754 OF 2026 Yashodhara Arun Deshpande & Ors. .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra Thr Sec. Forest Dept. & Ors. .. Respondents WITH Rushikesh 2/8 18-wp-1875-2026 Forest matters.doc (SR. NO. 21) WRIT PETITION NO. 8999 OF 2026 Vinayak Govind Dhole & Ors. .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra Throu. Its Sec. Forest Dept & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 23) WRIT PETITION NO. 10428 OF 2026 Nilesh Shubhash Mundada & Ors. .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra Thr Its Secretary & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 24) WRIT PETITION NO. 10434 OF 2026 Rohidas Dattatray Chavan & Ors. .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra Thorou. Its Addl Chief Sec. & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 25) WRIT PETITION NO. 10435 OF 2026 Sanjeev Sawlaram Janjire & Ors. .. Petitioners Versus

State of Maharashtra Thr Its Secretary & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 28) WRIT PETITION NO. 8149 OF 2026 Rushikesh 3/8 18-wp-1875-2026 Forest matters.doc Hazoor Multi Projects Ltd Thr Vijendra Ishwardas Garg .. Petitioner Versus State of Maharashtra Thr Its Additional Chief Secretary & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 30) WRIT PETITION NO. 8727 OF 2026 Keshavdev Tibriwal (Since Decd Throu. Legal Heirs) .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra Throu. Sec. Revenue and Forest Dept & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 31) WRIT PETITION NO. 8729 OF 2026 Vinod Bajranglal Dalmiya .. Petitioner Versus State of Maharashtra Throu. Sec. Revenue and Forest Dept & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 32) WRIT PETITION NO. 8731 OF 2026 Vijaykumar S Khemka Since Decd. Thr As Per Will Aditya Tibriwal .. Petitioner Versus State of Maharashtra Thr Secretary & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 33) WRIT PETITION NO. 8733 OF 2026 Rushikesh 4/8 18-wp-1875-2026 Forest matters.doc Keshavdev Tibriwal (Since Decd Throu. Legal Heirs) .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra Throu. Sec. Revenue and Forest Dept & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 34) WRIT PETITION NO. 8734 OF 2026 Subhashchandra Tibriwal (since Deceased Thru Legal Heirs) .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra Thru Secretary & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 35) WRIT PETITION NO. 8736 OF 2026 Sharadchandra Tibriwal & Anr. .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra Through Sec.

Revenue and Forest Dept. & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 36) WRIT PETITION NO. 8966 OF 2026 Sumitra J. Khemka .. Petitioner Versus State of Maharashtra Thr Sec. Revenue and Forest Dept. & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 37) WRIT PETITION NO. 9027 OF 2026 Rushikesh 5/8 18-wp-1875-2026 Forest matters.doc Swami Pandurang Bangar & Ors. .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra Throu. Its Sec. Forest Dept & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 38) WRIT PETITION NO. 9032 OF 2026 Ashok Dattatraya Mankar & Ors. .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra Thr Sec. Forest Dept. & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 39) WRIT PETITION NO. 9035 OF 2026 Dhnyeshwar Namdeo Mohite & Ors. .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra Thru Secretary & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 40) WRIT PETITION NO. 9036 OF 2026 Shashikant Kashiram Shinde .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra Thru Secretary & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 41) WRIT PETITION NO. 9038 OF 2026 Rushikesh 6/8 18-wp-1875-2026 Forest matters.doc Balu Alias Balasaheb Jagganth Tamboli & Ors. .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra Thr Sec. Forest Dept. & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 42) WRIT PETITION NO. 9043 OF 2026 Anandi Dattu Gaikwad & Ors. .. Petitioners Versus The State of Maharashtra Thr. Its Principal Secretary Revenue And Forest Department & Ors. .. Respondents ---------- Mr. Swapnil Telang, for the Petitioners in Serial Nos. 18, 21, 24, 25, 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41.

Mr. Swapnil Telang i/b Mr. Atharva Bhingardeve, for the Petitioners in Serial No. 28. Mr. Suyash Sule, for the Petitioners in Serial No. 23. Mr. V. A. Gangal a/w Ms. Shweta Parab, for the Petitioners in Serial Nos. 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36. Mr. Prithviraj S. Gole, for the Petitioners in Serial No. 42. Ms. Kavita N. Solunke, Addl.G.P., a/w Smt. Shruti D. Vyas,. Addl.G.P, Mr. B. V. Samant, Addl.G.P, Mr. A. I. Patel, Addl.G.P, Mr. Karan S. Thorat, ‘B’ Panel Counsel and Mr. M. M. Pabale, AGP, for the State in Serial. No. 18 in all the Petitions. Mr. Vaibhav Charalwar, ‘B Panel’ Counsel, for the State in Serial No. 21, 25, 31, 39, 40 and 42. Mr. Karan S. Thorat, ‘B Panel’ Counsel, for the State in Serial No. 23, 30, 32 and 41. Ms. Leena Patil, ‘B Panel’ Counsel, for the State in Serial Nos. 24. Ms. Savita Prabhune, AGP for the State in Serial Nos. 28, 33, 36 Rushikesh 7/8 18-wp-1875-2026 Forest matters.doc and 38. Mr. M. M. Pabale, AGP, for the State in Serial No. 34. Mr. S. H. Kankal, AGP, for the State in Serial No. 35. Mr. P. P. Kakade, Addl.G.P a/w Mr. Karan S. Thorat, ‘B Panel’ Counsel, for the State in Serial No. 37. ---------- CORAM : BHARATI DANGRE & ASHISH S. CHAVAN, JJ. DATED : 03rd SEPTEMBER, 2026 P.C:-

1. In the wake of the directions issued by us in a bunch of Writ Petitions, the lead Petition being Writ Petition No.1536 of 2017, decided on 23rd July 2026, as well the directions issued in Writ Petition No.5344 of 2026, decided on 24th August 2026, we deem it appropriate to permit the Petitioners to prefer a representation to the Deputy Conservator of Forests and permit the Petitions to be treated as a representation to be placed before the Scrutiny Committee, which shall follow the mandate as set out in the Government Resolution dated 13th August 2026, issued by the Revenue and Forest Department, streamlining for redressal of grievance of those who claim that their lands have been wrongly mutated as ‘Private Forests’ without following the procedure laid down in Section 35 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927. All the proceedings shall be adjudicated by the Scrutiny Committee in an expeditious manner. Rushikesh 8/8 18-wp-1875-2026 Forest matters.doc With the aforesaid directions, the Writ Petitions stand disposed of. (ASHISH S. CHAVAN, J.) (BHARATI DANGRE, J.) Digitally signed by RUSHIKESH RUSHIKESH VISHNU VISHNU PATIL PATIL Date: 2026.09.07 19:01:52 +0530 Rushikesh

1/8 18-wp-1875-2026 Forest matters.doc IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION (SR. NO. 18) WRIT PETITION NO. 1875 OF 2026 Tushar Chintamani Mengale & Ors. .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 18) WRIT PETITION NO. 1879 OF 2026 Bhimsen Pandurang Jadhav & Ors. .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra Thr Its Secretary Forest & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 18) WRIT PETITION NO. 1877 OF 2026 Shripati Rama Patil & Ors. .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra Thru. Secretary & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 18) WRIT PETITION NO. 2754 OF 2026 Yashodhara Arun Deshpande & Ors. .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra Thr Sec. Forest Dept. & Ors. .. Respondents WITH Rushikesh 2/8 18-wp-1875-2026 Forest matters.doc (SR. NO. 21) WRIT PETITION NO. 8999 OF 2026 Vinayak Govind Dhole & Ors. .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra Throu. Its Sec. Forest Dept & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 23) WRIT PETITION NO. 10428 OF 2026 Nilesh Shubhash Mundada & Ors. .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra Thr Its Secretary & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 24) WRIT PETITION NO. 10434 OF 2026 Rohidas Dattatray Chavan & Ors. .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra Thorou. Its Addl Chief Sec. & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 25) WRIT PETITION NO. 10435 OF 2026 Sanjeev Sawlaram Janjire & Ors. .. Petitioners Versus

State of Maharashtra Thr Its Secretary & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 28) WRIT PETITION NO. 8149 OF 2026 Rushikesh 3/8 18-wp-1875-2026 Forest matters.doc Hazoor Multi Projects Ltd Thr Vijendra Ishwardas Garg .. Petitioner Versus State of Maharashtra Thr Its Additional Chief Secretary & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 30) WRIT PETITION NO. 8727 OF 2026 Keshavdev Tibriwal (Since Decd Throu. Legal Heirs) .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra Throu. Sec. Revenue and Forest Dept & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 31) WRIT PETITION NO. 8729 OF 2026 Vinod Bajranglal Dalmiya .. Petitioner Versus State of Maharashtra Throu. Sec. Revenue and Forest Dept & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 32) WRIT PETITION NO. 8731 OF 2026 Vijaykumar S Khemka Since Decd. Thr As Per Will Aditya Tibriwal .. Petitioner Versus State of Maharashtra Thr Secretary & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 33) WRIT PETITION NO. 8733 OF 2026 Rushikesh 4/8 18-wp-1875-2026 Forest matters.doc Keshavdev Tibriwal (Since Decd Throu. Legal Heirs) .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra Throu. Sec. Revenue and Forest Dept & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 34) WRIT PETITION NO. 8734 OF 2026 Subhashchandra Tibriwal (since Deceased Thru Legal Heirs) .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra Thru Secretary & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 35) WRIT PETITION NO. 8736 OF 2026 Sharadchandra Tibriwal & Anr. .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra Through Sec.

Revenue and Forest Dept. & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 36) WRIT PETITION NO. 8966 OF 2026 Sumitra J. Khemka .. Petitioner Versus State of Maharashtra Thr Sec. Revenue and Forest Dept. & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 37) WRIT PETITION NO. 9027 OF 2026 Rushikesh 5/8 18-wp-1875-2026 Forest matters.doc Swami Pandurang Bangar & Ors. .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra Throu. Its Sec. Forest Dept & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 38) WRIT PETITION NO. 9032 OF 2026 Ashok Dattatraya Mankar & Ors. .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra Thr Sec. Forest Dept. & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 39) WRIT PETITION NO. 9035 OF 2026 Dhnyeshwar Namdeo Mohite & Ors. .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra Thru Secretary & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 40) WRIT PETITION NO. 9036 OF 2026 Shashikant Kashiram Shinde .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra Thru Secretary & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 41) WRIT PETITION NO. 9038 OF 2026 Rushikesh 6/8 18-wp-1875-2026 Forest matters.doc Balu Alias Balasaheb Jagganth Tamboli & Ors. .. Petitioners Versus State of Maharashtra Thr Sec. Forest Dept. & Ors. .. Respondents WITH (SR. NO. 42) WRIT PETITION NO. 9043 OF 2026 Anandi Dattu Gaikwad & Ors. .. Petitioners Versus The State of Maharashtra Thr. Its Principal Secretary Revenue And Forest Department & Ors. .. Respondents ---------- Mr. Swapnil Telang, for the Petitioners in Serial Nos. 18, 21, 24, 25, 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41.

Mr. Swapnil Telang i/b Mr. Atharva Bhingardeve, for the Petitioners in Serial No. 28. Mr. Suyash Sule, for the Petitioners in Serial No. 23. Mr. V. A. Gangal a/w Ms. Shweta Parab, for the Petitioners in Serial Nos. 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36. Mr. Prithviraj S. Gole, for the Petitioners in Serial No. 42. Ms. Kavita N. Solunke, Addl.G.P., a/w Smt. Shruti D. Vyas,. Addl.G.P, Mr. B. V. Samant, Addl.G.P, Mr. A. I. Patel, Addl.G.P, Mr. Karan S. Thorat, ‘B’ Panel Counsel and Mr. M. M. Pabale, AGP, for the State in Serial. No. 18 in all the Petitions. Mr. Vaibhav Charalwar, ‘B Panel’ Counsel, for the State in Serial No. 21, 25, 31, 39, 40 and 42. Mr. Karan S. Thorat, ‘B Panel’ Counsel, for the State in Serial No. 23, 30, 32 and 41. Ms. Leena Patil, ‘B Panel’ Counsel, for the State in Serial Nos. 24. Ms. Savita Prabhune, AGP for the State in Serial Nos. 28, 33, 36 Rushikesh 7/8 18-wp-1875-2026 Forest matters.doc and 38. Mr. M. M. Pabale, AGP, for the State in Serial No. 34. Mr. S. H. Kankal, AGP, for the State in Serial No. 35. Mr. P. P. Kakade, Addl.G.P a/w Mr. Karan S. Thorat, ‘B Panel’ Counsel, for the State in Serial No. 37. ---------- CORAM : BHARATI DANGRE & ASHISH S. CHAVAN, JJ. DATED : 03rd SEPTEMBER, 2026 P.C:-

1. In the wake of the directions issued by us in a bunch of Writ Petitions, the lead Petition being Writ Petition No.1536 of 2017, decided on 23rd July 2026, as well the directions issued in Writ Petition No.5344 of 2026, decided on 24th August 2026, we deem it appropriate to permit the Petitioners to prefer a representation to the Deputy Conservator of Forests and permit the Petitions to be treated as a representation to be placed before the Scrutiny Committee, which shall follow the mandate as set out in the Government Resolution dated 13th August 2026, issued by the Revenue and Forest Department, streamlining for redressal of grievance of those who claim that their lands have been wrongly mutated as ‘Private Forests’ without following the procedure laid down in Section 35 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927. All the proceedings shall be adjudicated by the Scrutiny Committee in an expeditious manner. Rushikesh 8/8 18-wp-1875-2026 Forest matters.doc With the aforesaid directions, the Writ Petitions stand disposed of. (ASHISH S. CHAVAN, J.) (BHARATI DANGRE, J.) Digitally signed by RUSHIKESH RUSHIKESH VISHNU VISHNU PATIL PATIL Date: 2026.09.07 19:01:52 +0530 Rushikesh