Home / Crime and Justice / 2050 Rare Books Missing: Bombay HC Stays Asiatic Society Polls
2050 Rare Books Missing: Bombay HC Stays Asiatic Society Polls
14 Mar
Summary
- Bombay High Court declined to lift stay on Asiatic Society elections.
- Charity Commissioner stayed elections over 2050 missing rare books.
- Court found serious lapses in the society's functioning.
Elections for the managing body of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai, scheduled for March 14, were stayed by the Bombay High Court on Friday, March 14, 2026. Justice Jitendra Jain declined to lift the existing stay order, which was imposed by the Charity Commissioner on March 13, 2026.
The Charity Commissioner's decision to halt the elections at the eleventh hour stemmed from an inquiry into the society's operations. This investigation revealed that 2050 rare books were missing from the institution.
An urgent petition filed by academic Deepak Pawar, seeking to overturn the Charity Commissioner's order, was heard by the High Court. Justice Jain stated that there appeared to be serious lapses in the society's functioning and rejected the plea for interim relief, finding no fault with the Charity Commissioner's reasoning.
