1 2026:CGHC:7080 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPC No. 537 of 2026 Ashok Kumar S/o Late Anand Ram Khobragade, Aged About 64 Years R/o Sector-7, Sadak-16, Civic Center- Bhilai, District Durg C.G. ... Petitioner versus 1 - State of Chhattisgarh Through Its Secretary, Department of Tribal Welfare, Mahanadi Bhawan, Naya Raipur C.G. 2 - Appellate Authority/ Upper Collector Court And Adm (Abhishek Agrawal), Durg District Durg C.G. 3 - The Sub Divisional Officer (Revenue) Durg, District Durg C.G. ... Respondent(s) For Petitioner : Mr. Love Kumar Ramteke, Advocate For State/ Respondent(s) : Ms. Poorva Tiwari, Panel Lawyer Hon’ble Shri Justice Rakesh Mohan Pandey Order on Board 09/02/2026 1. At the very outset, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that he had moved an application for grant of a social status certificate, which was rejected by the competent authority. He would further submit that pursuant to the rejection order, the petitioner preferred WPC No. 3598 of 2022, which was dismissed on 10.06.2025 and liberty was granted to the petitioner to prefer an appeal before the competent authority under Section 5 of the Chhattisgarh Scheduled Digitally signed by NADIM MOHLE 2 Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes (Regulation of Social Status Certificate) Act, 2013, and to raise all his grievances before the appellate authority. Pursuant to the order dated 10.06.2025, petitioner preferred an appeal before the appropriate authority, i.e., the Collector, Durg, but till date, the concerned authority has not decided the same. He would further submit that a direction may be issued to respondent No. 2/Appellate authority to decide the pending appeal expeditiously. 2. On the other hand, learned State counsel would oppose the prayer made by counsel for the petitioner. 3. Taking into consideration the submissions advanced by learned counsel for the parties, the petition is disposed of with a direction to respondent No. 2 to decide the pending appeal expeditiously, preferably within a period of 120 days from today. 4. With the aforesaid observation and direction, this writ petition is disposed of. Sd/- Rakesh Mohan Pandey JUDGE Nadim