WP 5705/10 1 SSK/47 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO.5705 OF 2010 Shri Santosh Shivaji Birdavade ....Petitioner Versus The State of Maharashtra & Ors. ...Respondents Mr. S. P. Kadam, Advocate for the Petitioner. Mr. R. M. Patne, AGP for Respondent Nos. 1 to 3. Mr. N. V. Walawalkar, Sr.Advocate i/b. Mr. V. B. Tapkir, Advocate for Respondent No.5. CORAM : R. V. MORE, J. DATED :28th JULY, 2010. P.C.: Heard Mr. Kadam, learned Counsel for the Petitioner, Mr. Walawalkar, learned Senior Counsel for Respondent No.5 and Mr. Patne, learned AGP for Respondent Nos.1 to 3. 2. The petition pertains to election to Village Panchayat Kharabwadi. The Petitioner challenges the order of Respondent No.3 accepting nomination of Respondent No.5. The elections to the said Village Panchayat were declared on 18th June, 2010. Notice under Rule 7(2) of the Bombay Village Panchayat (Election) Rules, 1959 was published on 2nd July, 2010. According to this notice, the nominations were to be accepted WP 5705/10 2 SSK/47 between 9th July, 2010 and 16th July, 2010. The scrutiny was scheduled to take place on 17th July, 2010. Withdrawal of candidatures was permitted before 19th July, 2010, list of validly nominated candidates was to be published on 19th July, 2010 and voting is scheduled to take place on 30th July, 2010. 3. Mr. Patne, learned AGP on instructions makes a statement that the ballot papers are already printed and thus, the election process is at an advanced stage. The Petitioner has an alternative remedy of election petition under section 15 of the Bombay Village Panchayats Act, 1958. In the above facts and circumstances, I am not inclined to interfere with the impugned order in writ jurisdiction of this Court under Article 227 of the Constitution of India. The Petition is, therefore, dismissed. (R. V. MORE, J.)