:1: IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION WRIT WRIT WRIT PETITION NO. 615 OF 2008 PETITION NO. 615 OF 2008 PETITION NO. 615 OF 2008 Salim Ebrahim Begmohammed & Others ..Petitioners V/s Union of India and others ..Respondents Mr.N.H.Seervai, Sr. Counsel a/w Mr. Firdosh Pooniwala i/b Desai Desai & Carrimjee for the petitioners Mr.G. Hariharan a/w N.R. Prajapati i/b Dr. T.C. Kaushik for the respondent No.1 Mr. D.D. Nalawade, GP for respondent No.2 Mr. D.R. Mali Jt. Secretary to Government of Maharashtra and the Settlement Commisioenr for the comjpensation pool properties-cun custodian of evacuee property Maharashtra State. CORAM CORAM CORAM : : : SRI R.M.S. KHANDEPARKAR AND SRI R.M.S. KHANDEPARKAR AND SRI R.M.S. KHANDEPARKAR AND SRI SRI SRI A.A. SAYED, JJ. A.A. SAYED, JJ. A.A. SAYED, JJ. DATE DATE DATE : 5TH AUGUST, 2008 : 5TH AUGUST, 2008 : 5TH AUGUST, 2008 P.C. 1. The learned Counsel appearing for the respondent on instructions from Mr. D.R. Mali, Jt. Secretary to Government of Maharashtra and the Settlement Commissioner for the Compensation Pool Properties-Cum Custodian of Evacuee Property, Maharashtra State, states that the respondent will :2: carry out necessary exercise in accordance with the provisions of law for separation of 3/7 interest of the petitioner in Composite Properties listed in Exhbiite "K" to the petition and steps for appointing appropriate officer would be taken within 12 weeks and entire exercise of separation of interest would be completed by 31st December, 2009. We accept the said statement and in view thereof nothing survives in the petition. However, it is necessary to note that taking into consideration the fact that the matter has been lingering for more that 15 to 18 years without any further progress being made by the authorities in respect of their obligations under section 10 of the Evacuee Interest (Separation) Act, 1951 and therefore, we direct the authorities to act expeditiously in this regard and conclude the proceedings by 31st December, 2009. Needless to say that the authorities will have to bear in mind the provisions of Section 10 (a)(iv) of the said Act while performing such exercise and discharging their duties. With these directions the petition is disposed of with liberty to the petitioner to approach the court in case need arises in the matter. :3: We make it clear that we have not expressed any opinion on any of the points which are sought to be raised in the petition and all the points are kept open. (R.M.S. (R.M.S. (R.M.S. KHANDEPARKAR, J.) KHANDEPARKAR, J.) KHANDEPARKAR, J.) ( A.A. SAYED, J.) A.A. SAYED, J.) A.A. SAYED, J.)