38-16131-2023-CWP=.doc IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 16131 OF 2023 Bajarang Tukaram Mali … Petitioner Versus The State of Maharashtra & Anr. … Respondents …………. Mr. Nilesh Wable (through VC) a/w Parth Pitambare i/b Umesh Mankapure for the Petitioner. Mr. S.B. Kalel, AGP for the Respondent - State. …………. Coram : M. S. Karnik & Ajit B. Kadethankar, JJ. Date : December 03, 2025. P. C. : 1. Heard learned counsel. 2. The caste claim of the petitioner as belonging to the Lingayat Mali caste has been invalidated without hearing the petitioner. 3. Our attention is drawn to the genealogy, which is at page 33 of the paper book. The petitioner has relied upon the certiicate of validity issued in favour of his blood relative – Babaso Ashok Mali Uday S. Jagtap 1 of 3 UDAY SHIVAJI JAGTAP Digitally signed by UDAY SHIVAJI JAGTAP Date: 2025.12.03 19:37:01 +0530 38-16131-2023-CWP=.doc (OBC), which is at page 37 of the paper book. It is submitted that in view of the law laid down by this court in Apoorva d/o Vinay Nichale Vs. Divisional Committee 2010 (6) Mh.LJ Pg.401 once the blood relative of the applicant is granted caste validity certiicate, then there is no reason for denying such beneit in favour of the petitioner. 4. Learned AGP made an attempt to support the impugned order. 5. However, the caste claim of the petitioner has been invalidated without hearing the petitioner. We ind it appropriate to give an opportunity to the petitioner to present his case before the caste scrutiny committee. The impugned order dated 24th July 2023 passed by the Caste Scrutiny Committee is set aside. 6. The petitioner to appear before the Caste Scrutiny Committee on 15th December 2025 at 11.00 a.m. along with the copy of this order. It is open for the petitioner to place on record the additional material in the form of the certiicate of validity issued in favour of his blood relative, if not already produced. The Caste Scrutiny Committee to decide the claim afresh on its own merits and in accordance with law within 18 weeks from 15th December 2025. The petitioner undertakes to co-operate with the Scrutiny Committee and shall not ask for unnecessary adjournments. Uday S. Jagtap 2 of 3 38-16131-2023-CWP=.doc 7. The Writ Petition is disposed of. [Ajit B. Kadethankar, J. ] [ M. S. Karnik ] Uday S. Jagtap 3 of 3