2024:BHC-AUG:5011-DB IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY BENCH AT AURANGABAD CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO.1763 OF 2022

1. Shri Maroti S/o Gangaram Nandane

2. Shri Santosh S/o Vasantrao Sonawane

3. Shri Pravin S/o Prashantrao Deshmukh

4. Shri Gajanan S/o Dhondiram Gavali 5. Shri Shivanand S/o Ganpatrao Katte

6. Shri Sarjerao @ Santosh S/o Kishanrao Jagtap

7. Shri Shivaji S/o Sunil Pawar

8. Shri Ravi S/o Shrirang Gaikwad

9. Shri Maroti S/o Kondiram Jagade

10. Shri Pandurang S/o Pralhadrao Kadam 11. Shri Subhash S/o Anantrao Tarphade, 12 Shri Kailas S/o Vasantrao Sonawane

13. Shri Rama S/o Khemaji Gawale

14. Shri Ravi S/o Govindprasad Jumade

15. Shri Santosh S/o Laxman Giram 16. Shri Santosh S/o Balasaheb Kale

17. Shri Rajendra S/o Laxman Shinde

18. Shri Makrand S/o Dattopant Katkar

19. Shri Anil S/o Manikrao Deshmukh … APPLICANTS VERSUS

1. The State of Maharashtra through the Police Inspector, Parbhani Rural Police Station, Tq. and District Parbhani

2. Shri Bhagwan S/o Sitarama Jadhav … RESPONDENTS WITH CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO.1761 OF 2022 WITH CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO.335 OF 2023 IN CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO.1761 OF 2022

1. Shri Vinod s/o Ramchandra Pawar

2. Shri Dnyaneshwar s/o Limbaji Bombale

3. Shri Sandip s/o Arjunrao Awarsamal

4. Shri Pravin s/o Prataprao Awate

5. Shri Jagannath s/o Asaram Kakade

6. Shri Balaji s/o Ashiram Zanje

7. Shri Sunil s/o Murlidhar Pawar

8. Shri Ganesh s/o Bapurao Lahane

9. Shri Vikey s/o Ramesh Sharma

10. Shri Santosh s/o Govindrao Bahiwal … APPLICANTS VERSUS

1. The State of Maharashtra through the Police Inspector, Selu Police Station, Tq. District Parbhani

2. Shri Raosaheb s/o Gangaram Gadewad … RESPONDENTS WITH CRIMINAL WRIT PETITION NO.748 OF 2022 Shri Dattatray s/o Shrirangrao Kadam … PETITIONER VERSUS

1. The State of Maharashtra, through its Secretary (Appeal & Security), Home Department, Mantralaya, Mumbai-32.

2. The Collector, Parbhani District, Parbhani.

3. The Superintendent of Police, Parbhani District, Parbhani.

4. The Additional Superintendent of Police, Parbhani, District Parbhani 5. The Police Inspector Parbhani Rural Police Station, Tq. and District Parbhani

6. Shri Abhinash Kumar Additional Superintendent of Police, S. P. Office, Parbhani R/o. Superintendent Office, Parbhani, District Parbhani.

7. Shri Shirtode Sub Divisional Police Officer, Sub Divisional, Parbhani, Dist. Parbhani

8. Shri Bhagwan s/o Sitarama Jadhav, Police Sub Inspector R/o Parbhani Rural Police Station, Parbhani, Tq. & Dist. Parbhani … RESPONDENTS WITH CRIMINAL WRIT PETITION NO.749 OF 2022 WITH CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO.336 OF 2023 IN CRIMINAL WRIT PETITION NO.749 OF 2022 Shri Sai Sevabhavi Sanstha Adarsh Nagar, Selu, Tq. Selu, Dist. Parbhani through its president, Shri Vinod s/o Ramchandra Pawar … PETITIONER VERSUS

1. The State of Maharashtra, through its Secretary Home Department, Mantralaya, Mumbai-32.

2. The Collector, Parbhani District, Parbhani.

3. The Superintendent of Police, Parbhani District, Parbhani.

4. The Additional Superintendent of Police, Parbhani, District Parbhani 5. The Police Inspector, Selu Police Station, Tq. and Dist. Parbhani

6. Shri Abhinash Kumar Additional Superintendent of Police, S. P. Office, Parbhani R/o. Superintendent Office, Parbhani, District Parbhani.

7. Shri Raosaheb s/o Gangaram Gadewad Police Inspector R/o Selu Police Station, Tq. Selu, Dist. Parbhani … RESPONDENTS ...

Advocate for petitioners/applicants : Mr. P.D. Bachate a/w. Mr. N.D.

Kendre and Mr. V.B. Madan Public Prosecutor for respondents/State : Mr. A.B. Girase a/w Mr. M.M.

Nerlikar, Addl. Public Prosecutor …

CORAM : MANGESH S. PATIL, N.B. SURYAWANSHI &

R.M. JOSHI, JJJ.

RESERVED ON : 31.01.2024 PRONOUNCED ON : 08.03.2024 JUDGMENT ( PER : MANGESH S. PATIL, J.) :

In view of incompatible views of the two division benches, following issue has been referred for adjudication by the full bench :

“Whether an Assistant Superintendent of Police - ASP, without having been specially empowered by the State Government - SG, has an authority to exercise power covered by sub-clause