1 2026:CGHC:22483 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPC No. 2433 of 2026 1 - Magan Ram Nimja S/o Shri Anand Ram Aged About 46 Years R/o Village Gunchapur, Tahsil Podiuproda, District Korba (C.G.) ... Petitioner(s) versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Secretary Revenue Department Mantralaya Mahanadi Bhawan, Atal Nagar, Naya Raipur (C.G.) 2 - Director Tribal Research And Training Institute Higher Level Social Circumstance Certificate Verification Committee, Raipur District Raipur Chhattisgarh 3 - The Collector Cum President District Level Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee, District Korba Chhattisgarh 4 - Sub Divisional Officer (Rev) Podiuproda District Korba Chhattisgarh 5 - Tahsildar Tahsil Podiuproda District Korba Chhattisgarh ... Respondent(s) (Cause Title is taken from CIS System) For Petitioner : Mr. S. R. J. Jaiswal, Advocate For State : Mr. Anadi Sharma, Panel Lawyer Digitally signed by SHAYNA KADRI 2 Hon’ble Mr. Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad Order on Board 13/05/2026 1. The petitioner has filed this writ petition seeking following reliefs: “i) That, this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to call for entire records pertaining to the case of the petitioner, in the interest of justice. (ii) That, this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased consider the pending representations and to issue Bhariya caste certificate of the petitioner and his whole family members at the earliest, on the basis of earlier issuing caste certificate and revenue records, in the interest of justice. (iii) Any other relief which may be suitable in the facts and circumstances of the case, may also be granted.” 2. Facts of the case, as projected, are that the petitioner has filed the present writ petition stating that he and his entire family are permanent residents of Village Gunchapur, Tahsil Podiuproda, District Korba (C.G.) and belong to the Bhariya community, which is recognized as a Scheduled Tribe in the State of Chhattisgarh. It 3 is contended that caste certificates are required for the academic future of the children of the family and for availing various benefits extended by the Government. The petitioner submitted an application before the Tahsildar, Tahsil Podiuproda, District Korba along with requisite revenue records and supporting documents seeking issuance of caste certificates in favour of himself and his family members. Pursuant thereto, an enquiry was conducted by the Revenue Officer and a report was submitted before the Tahsildar. However, the case was subsequently returned on the ground of non-availability of certain old revenue and educational records prior to the year 1950. It is further averred that the Gram Panchayat, in its meeting dated 23.01.2023, recommended that the petitioner and his family members are permanent residents of Village Gunchapur and belong to the Bhariya Scheduled Tribe community. The Upper Collector, Korba, vide order dated 13.04.2023, also directed the concerned authorities to issue caste certificates on the basis of the recommendation of the Gram Panchayat. Despite such recommendation and direction, no final decision has been taken by the competent authority. The petitioner has further pleaded that the caste certificates of the petitioner and his father had earlier been issued by the competent authorities and the enquiry report also reflects that the forefathers of the petitioner were recorded as belonging to Bhariya caste in the revenue records. Despite the same, the application submitted 4 by the petitioner and his family members for issuance of social status/caste certificates is still pending consideration before the authorities. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner and his family members have been residing in Village Gunchapur since long and belong to Bhariya Scheduled Tribe community. It is argued that the competent authorities themselves have earlier issued caste certificates in favour of the petitioner and his father and the revenue as well as educational records also reflect their caste status. It is further submitted that the Gram Panchayat has recommended issuance of caste certificates and even the Upper Collector, Korba has directed the concerned authorities to issue the same. However, despite submission of all relevant documents and repeated representations, the respondent authorities have not taken any decision on the pending application of the petitioner and his family members. Learned counsel submits that inaction on the part of the authorities is arbitrary and causing serious prejudice to the petitioner and his family members, particularly affecting the educational prospects of their children and depriving them of benefits available to Scheduled Tribe candidates. He, therefore, prays that appropriate direction be issued to the competent authority to consider and decide the pending application expeditiously in accordance with law. 5 4. Learned State counsel submits that the competent authority shall consider the application submitted by the petitioner and his family members in accordance with law after verification of the relevant records and documents. It is further submitted that if the application is pending before the concerned authority, the same shall be decided within a reasonable period strictly in accordance with the applicable rules and procedure. 5. Having heard learned counsel for the parties and on perusal of the material available on record, this Court finds that the grievance of the petitioner is primarily with regard to non-consideration of the application submitted for issuance of social status/caste certificates in favour of the petitioner and his family members. 6. It appears from the record that the petitioner has already submitted the requisite application before the competent authority along with supporting documents and representations. It further appears that the matter is still pending consideration before the concerned authorities and no final decision has yet been taken thereon. 7. Considering the limited grievance raised in the present petition and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the claim of the petitioner, this Court deems it appropriate to dispose of the 6 writ petition with a direction to the concerned competent authority to consider and decide the pending application submitted by the petitioner and his family members for grant of social status/caste certificate strictly in accordance with law, after affording due opportunity to the petitioner and after verification of the relevant records and documents. The aforesaid exercise shall be completed expeditiously within a reasonable period from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order. 8. Accordingly, the petition stands disposed of. Sd/- (Amitendra Kishore Prasad) Shayna Judge