$~7 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI # CNR No. DLHC010356212026 + W.P.(C) 11086/2026 NAMIT SINGH .....Petitioner Through: Ms. Aarushi Tiku and Mr. Jai Girdhar, Advocates versus GOVERNMENT OFNCT OF DELHI .....Respondent Through: Ms. Sweety Singh, Advocate CORAM: HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE SWARANA KANTA SHARMA O R D E R % 17.08.2026 CM APPL. 51229-30/2026 (exemption) 1. Allowed, subject to all just exceptions. 2. Applications stand disposed of. W.P.(C) 11086/2026 3. By way of the present writ petition, the petitioner seeks following reliefs: “(a) Issue a Writ of Certiorari or any other Writ, Order or direction of like nature setting aside the rejections dated 21.01.2026 and 22.04.2026 issued by the Respondent and; (b) Issue a Writ of Mandamus or any other Writ, Order or direction of like nature directing the Respondent to issue scheduled caste certificate to the Petitioner herein on the basis of the caste certificate of his mother alone; (c) Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction thereby directing the This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 22/08/2026 at 10:49:39 Respondent to modify the circular dated 20.07.2020 to include women who have been abandoned by their husbands; and...” 4. Issue notice. The learned counsel appearing on advance notice on behalf of respondents accepts notice. 5. Briefly stated the facts of the present case, as mentioned in the writ petition, are that the Petitioner was born on 17.10.1999 from the wedlock of his parents, which was solemnised according to Hindu rites on 18.02.1999. Both parents belong to the Balmiki community, which is recognized as a Scheduled Caste under the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) (Union Territories) Order, 1951. The Petitioner has been residing with his mother and younger sister since around 2010/2011, after his father left the matrimonial home and abandoned the family. The Petitioner has had no contact or knowledge of his father's whereabouts since then. In 2018, the Petitioner's father instituted divorce proceedings against the Petitioner's mother under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. The proceedings were ultimately dismissed for non-prosecution on 18.05.2022 as the father failed to appear before the Court. The Petitioner's father has also been unavailable in criminal proceedings arising out of FIR No. 512/2012 and was declared a Proclaimed Person on 24.09.2025. Proceedings under Section 174A of IPC/Section 209 of BNS were also initiated against him. It is stated that the Department of Revenue, GNCTD is the authority responsible for issuance of caste certificates in Delhi. The Department had issued Circulars dated 20.07.2020 and 13.07.2022, clarifying that applications made by divorced, separated or single mothers for caste certificates in favour of their children should be accepted. On 26.12.2023, the Petitioner's mother was issued a Scheduled Caste Certificate, This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 22/08/2026 at 10:49:39 establishing her status as belonging to the Scheduled Caste category. The Petitioner and his mother repeatedly approached the concerned SDM/Revenue authorities seeking issuance of a Scheduled Caste certificate to the Petitioner on the basis of his mother's SC certificate, particularly in view of his father's prolonged abandonment and unavailability. On 23.12.2025, the Petitioner submitted an application for an SC certificate, which was rejected on 21.01.2026 with the remark: “Caste certificate required of the paternal side.” The Petitioner again applied on 30.03.2026 and submitted supporting documents, including his mother's representation, affidavit regarding her separation from her husband, her SC certificate, and documents concerning the father's proclaimed-person status. Despite these documents, the Respondent rejected the application on 22.04.2026, stating that the father was alive, there were no documents proving separation/divorce, and therefore the “single mother criteria” was not applicable. The Petitioner contends that the repeated rejection is arbitrary and contrary to the Respondent's own circulars, as well as the judgment of this Court in Deep Minor through Next Friend v. Govt. NCT of Delhi, W.P.(C) No. 9141/2023, decided on 17.12.2024. The denial of the certificate is causing substantial prejudice to the Petitioner, as he intends to pursue higher studies through IGNOU and requires the SC certificate to avail himself of applicable reservation/category benefits, fee exemptions and other concessions. 6. After hearing learned counsels appearing on behalf of the parties and in view of the issue involved in the instant petition, this Court finds it appropriate to direct that the present petition filed before this Court be treated as a representation on behalf of the petitioner, and the respondents This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 22/08/2026 at 10:49:39 are directed to decide the same, within a period of eight weeks from date, in light of the documents which will be submitted before them by the petitioner and the documents which have already been submitted, under intimation to the petitioner herein. 7. In above terms, the present petition stands disposed of. 8. In case of any further grievance, the petitioner will be at liberty to approach this Court by filing fresh writ petition. 9. The order be uploaded on the website forthwith. DR. SWARANA KANTA SHARMA, J AUGUST 17, 2026/ns vs This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 22/08/2026 at 10:49:39