The Bombay High Court has passed an interim order and put on hold a directive of the Maharashtra Charity Commissioner that suspended elections to the Asiatic Society of Mumbai and placed the 200-year-old institution under an administrator, holding that there was a prima facie violation of natural justice.
Justice Farhan P Dubash granted interim relief after noting that the society and its managing committee were not given prior notice or an opportunity to respond to the inspector`s inquiry report that formed the basis of the commissioner’s 50-page order dated March 13. The order had blocked elections scheduled for March 14.
Senior counsel Atul Damle, appearing for petitioners led by Kumar Ketkar, argued that the only communication before the order was a notice to the election officer on March 11, which did not put the society on notice of the proposed action. The state sought time to reply. The matter will be heard on April 16. The commissioner’s order will remain stayed until then.
Contest turns political
The election has drawn prominent political figures:
Vinay Sahasrabuddhe
Kumar Ketkar
Both are contesting for the top post with their respective panels, intensifying what has traditionally been an academic institution’s internal process.
Independents in fray
>> Seven independent candidates are contesting
>> They have positioned themselves as non-aligned and reform-oriented
Rare collections
>> Over one lakh books
>> Around 3000 manuscripts (Sanskrit, Persian, Prakrit)
>> Approximately 1300 maps
>> The library holds rare works, including manuscripts such as the Divine Comedy and a Persian version of the Mahabharata.
Additional
One managing committee post (two-year term: 2025–2027)
Seven-member scrutinising committee (2025–2026)
Funding snapshot
Rs 75 lakh in BMC budget 2026-27, Rs 1 crore annual grant from state government (restricted use; not for salaries), and additional grant from the Ministry of Culture
Preservation concerns
Basement storage conditions flagged for urgent improvement
Long-standing concerns over the conservation of rare materials
What triggered the dispute?
>> Surge in new memberships in recent months
>> Disagreements over the voter list
>> Inspector inquiry report leading to administrative intervention
>> These issues contributed to the postponement of elections on both scheduled dates
Elections postponed twice
Original poll date: November 8, 2025
Rescheduled date: March 14, 2026
Status: Postponed twice following directions
from the charity commissioner’s office
Posts to be filled
Two-year term (2025–2027): President
Four vice-presidents
Honorary secretary
Three-year term (2025–2028): Five managing committee members
About the Asiatic Society
Founded: 1804
Location: Town Hall, Horniman Circle, Mumbai
Status: Grade-I heritage structure
