Pending statutory application under the Bombay Money Lenders' Act may be directed for timely disposal without examining merits.

Where a statutory application is already pending before the competent authority under the Bombay Money Lenders' Act, the Court may direct its prompt disposal without entering into the merits of the underlying allegations. The Court accepted the assurance that the authority would decide the application within a reasonable time and, because the application remained undecided, directed the respondent authority to consider and decide it within four weeks. The alleged absence of licence and any claimed illegality were not examined on merits.

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Issues: Whether the respondent authority should be directed to decide the petitioner's pending application under the Bombay Money Lenders' Act within a fixed time.

Analysis: The application seeking action in respect of the alleged absence of licence under the Bombay Money Lenders' Act was already pending before the respondent authority. The Court accepted the statement that the authority would decide the application within a reasonable period and, in view of the pending statutory application, considered it appropriate to direct its early disposal. The Court did not enter into the merits of the dispute or the alleged illegality.

Conclusion: The respondent authority was directed to consider and decide the petitioner's application within four weeks.

Ratio Decidendi: Where a statutory application is pending before the competent authority, the Court may direct timely disposal without examining the merits of the underlying .

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