1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION (L) NO.1389 OF 2009 Shri Shaikh Mohd. Shabbir. .. Petitioner Vs State of Maharashtra & Ors. .. Respondents -- Petitioner in person. Shri Shekhar Ingavale, AGP for State. -- CORAM : SWATANTER KUMAR, C.J. & A.M. KHANWILKAR, J DATED : 4TH AUGUST, 2009 P.C. Learned counsel appearing for the State submits that the order passed by the Competent Authority dated 3rd July, 2009 relating to the exhibition of Video Cinema under the provisions of the Bombay Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 1953 and the Maharashtra Cinemas (Regulation) Rules, 1966 is appealable and the Petitioner has a remedy to file an appeal within 30 days from the date of passing of the order impugned in the present Petition. 2. When an alternative statutory remedy is available, we see 2 no reason why the Petitioner should not avail of that remedy. However, we direct that the present Writ Petition itself be treated as an Appeal before the Authority concerned since it is within the period of limitation from the date of impugned order which was passed on 3rd July, 2009 and communicated to the Petitioner subsequent thereto. Thus, we dispose of this Writ Petition with direction to Respondent No.1– Secretary, Home Department, to treat this Writ Petition as an Appeal and pass appropriate order expeditiously after hearing the Petitioner. The Petitioner would appear before the Authority on 17th August, 2009 at 11.00 a.m. 3. Order accordingly. CHIEF JUSTICE A.M. KHANWILKAR, J