1 WP / 12841 / 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY BENCH AT AURANGABAD 902 WRIT PETITION NO. 12841 OF 2026 PRABHAKAR BALAJI DESHATWAD VERSUS THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THR SECRETARY AND OTHERS ... Advocate for petitioner : Mr. C.R. Thorat and Mr. O.D. Totawad AGP for the respondent – State : Mr. P.K. Lakhotiya ... CORAM : KISHORE C. SANT AND JITENDRA JAIN, JJ. DATE : 23 SEPTEMBER 2026 PER COURT : Heard learned advocate for the petitioner and learned AGP. 2. Grievance in the petition is against the order issued by respondent no. 3 dated 09.09.2026 directing the petitioner to submit the caste validity certificate within 8 days and if no certificate is produced why action of termination not be taken against the petitioner. 3. It is the case of the petitioner that his caste claim is pending before the Committee since 17.03.2026. It is not in the hands of the petitioner to get the claim decided at the earliest. Respondent no. 3 while appointing the petitioner against the post reserved for a person belonging to scheduled tribe, had directed the petitioner to 2026:BHC-AUG:43440-DB 2 WP / 12841 / 2026 submit caste validity certificate within six weeks from the date of his appointment. A notice is, therefore, issued for non-submission of the tribe validity certificate. 4. The petitioner’s claim is already pending before the Committee as observed above. In view of above, the petition can be disposed of by issuing following directions :- ORDER I) Writ petition is allowed. II) Show cause notice dated 09.09.2026 is quashed and set aside. III) Respondent no. 2 is directed to decide the claim of the petitioner within three (3) months from today. IV) No adverse action be taken against the petitioner solely on the basis of non-submission of the caste validity certificate for a period of six (6) weeks or till the tribe claim is decided, whichever is earlier. 5. With these directions, the petition stands disposed of. [ JITENDRA JAIN ] [ KISHORE C. SANT ] JUDGE JUDGE arp/