41-wp12685-2025.odt (1) IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY BENCH AT AURANGABAD WRIT PETITION NO. 12685 OF 2025 Balaji Rukmaji Bhairwad VERSUS The State Of Maharashtra Through Its Principal Secretary And Others ... Advocate for the Petitioner : Mr. Chinchole Ghanshyam K AGP for Respondent/State : Mr. P.K. Lakhotiya ... CORAM : R.G. AVACHAT & ABASAHEB D. SHINDE, JJ. DATED : OCTOBER 13, 2025 PER COURT : . Heard. 2. By this writ petition, the petitioner is seeking direction that his caste claim belonging to Koli-Mahadev Scheduled Tribe pending adjudication before Caste Scrutiny Committee since 28.05.2024 be decided expeditiously. Besides seeking direction, the petitioner is also seeking protection to his service since the employer by the communication dated 20.08.2025 has directed the petitioner to submit the caste validity certificate, failing which the services of the petitioner would be terminated. 3. Considering the same, we direct the Caste Scrutiny Committee to decide the caste claim of the petitioner within a period of eight months from today. 2025:BHC-AUG:29180-DB 41-wp12685-2025.odt (2) 4. Pending the decision, the services of the petitioner would not be disturbed. The petitioner shall co-operate with the adjudication of his caste claim. 5. We further make it clear that the protection granted by us would be in operation only till the Caste Scrutiny Committee decides the caste claim of the petitioner. (ABASAHEB D. SHINDE, J.) (R.G. AVACHAT, J.) Mujaheed//