( 1 ) wp12977.26 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY BENCH AT AURANGABAD 904 WRIT PETITION NO. 12977 OF 2026 DIKSHIKA BHIMRAO THAKUR MINOR THR FATHER BHIMRAO P THAKUR VERSUS THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THR SECRETARY AND ORS 906 WRIT PETITION NO. 13086 OF 2026 CHAITALI DIPAK VISALE VERSUS THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS Mr. K.T. Shirurkar, Advocate for the petitioners. Mr. P.S. Patil and Mr. R.S. Wani, AGPs for the respondent-State in the respective petitions. CORAM : KISHORE C. SANT & JITENDRA JAIN, JJ. DATE : 08.10.2026 PC :- 01. The petitioners have approached this Court seeking directions to respondent No.2 – Scrutiny Committee to decide their claim as belonging to the Scheduled Tribe within a stipulated period. The petitioners are students, who require validity certificates for pursuing their further academic career. 02. Learned AGP, on instructions, submits that the claims can be decided within six months from today. 2026:BHC-AUG:47673-DB ( 2 ) wp12977.26 03. Considering the above, present Writ Petitions stand disposed off with directions to respondent No.2 – Scrutiny Committee to decide claim of the petitioner in Writ Petition No. 12977 of 2026 within a period of six months and to decide claim of the petitioner in Writ Petition No. 13086 of 2026 within a period of four months, from today. The petitioners to appear before respondent - No.2 – Scrutiny Committee on 16th October, 2026 and to co-operate the Scrutiny Committee. [JITENDRA JAIN, J.] [KISHORE C. SANT, J.] snk/2026/Oct26/wp12977.26