S.RAVINDRA BHAT, J. - (1.) Special leave granted in all the petitions. The appeals were heard with consent of counsel appearing for the parties to these proceedings.
(2.) The grievance of the appellants in these batch of appeals is with respect to a common judgment of the Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court. [dated 27.06.2019 in Criminal Public Interest Litigation No. 6/ 2018, with Public Interest Litigation No. 70/2014 and Criminal Application Nos. 2075, 2091 and 2107/ 2019.] In the criminal public interest litigation, the respondents (original writ petitioners, hereafter "PIL petitioners") sought directions to the Union of India, the State of Maharashtra, the Maharashtra Housing and Urban Development Authority (MHADA) and state officials to initiate criminal proceedings against the responsible officers and office bearers of Municipal Council, Naldurg (hereafter "municipality") and concerned contractors for misappropriation of government funds in implementation of the housing scheme in the municipality. Some appellants had filed criminal petitions, opposing the criminal proceedings, which were disposed of.
(3.) The PIL petitioners claimed to be social activists and former Councillors of the municipality who were involved in social activities, reforms and reconstruction of the society which included running a library (Lokmanya Book Library at Naldurg). They had also organized various camps like literacy camp for illiterate people, chalice (Panpoi) at public places during summer season, etc.;