(1) 901.wp.7410.2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY NAGPUR BENCH : NAGPUR WRIT PETITION NO.7410 OF 2026 Priya Anil Deogade Vs. The State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra State, through its Commissioner, Mumbai -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, Court's or Judge's orders appearances, Court's orders of directions and Registrar's orders -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mr. B. S. Ramteke, Advocate for petitioner. Mr. Nikhil Gaikwad, Advocate for respondent. CORAM : URMILA JOSHI-PHALKE AND RAJ D. WAKODE, JJ. DATED : 24/09/2026 1. By order dated 08.07.2026 the Writ Petition No.5242/2026, this Court has already directed to the Scheduled Tribe Certificate Scrutiny Committee, Nagpur to decide her caste claim, belonging to “Mana” Scheduled Tribe within a period of four months. 2. Now, by this petition, the petitioner is seeking a direction to the respondent to consider her candidature from the Scheduled Tribe category, as the Committee has not yet decided the caste claim of the present petitioner, despite the directions issued by this Court vide order dated 08.07.2026. 3. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner. He reiterated the contention that the petitioner’s claim for verification of her “Mana” Scheduled Tribe status was submitted before the Scheduled Tribe Certificate Scrutiny Committee, Nagpur in Writ Petition No.5242/2026 direction was sought from this Court to decide the claim within four months. During the pendency of her caste claim on 2026:BHC-NAG:12735-DB (2) 901.wp.7410.2026 26.08.2026, the State Common Entrance Test Cell issued notice commencing the centralized admission process for the B.Sc. Nursing Course post for the academic year. The petitioner is appearing in the second CAP round and there is likelihood of her admission, however for want of a caste certificate, her candidature would not be considered and therefore, directions be given to the Committee. 4. Now, the Maharashtra Government has already issued the Notification dated 04.09.2026 extending the benefit of producing the Validity Certificate within six months. However, the said benefit is not extended to the Scheduled Tribe. We have already directed the State Government to explain why the said benefit is not extended to the Scheduled Tribe in other writ petition. Now, considering that the State Government has already been extended the time period for Special Backward Class (SBC), Other Backward Class (OBC) and Scheduled Caste to produce the Validity Certificate within six months. The said benefit can be extended to the present petitioner, in view of that we direct the respondent to consider her candidature from the Scheduled Tribe category, if she is otherwise eligible. 5. The admission of the present petitioner would be subject to the final outcome of this petition. 6. The petitioner shall not seek any equity on that ground. 7. With these directions, the petition is disposed of. (RAJ D. WAKODE, J) (URMILA JOSHI-PHALKE, J) Sarkate Signed by: Mr. A.R. Sarkate Designation: PA To Honourable Judge Date: 24/09/2026 21:31:46