1 CGHC010509452025 2026:CGHC:30009 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPC No. 6555 of 2025 1 - Nistha Baghel D/o Shri Gauri Shankar Baghel Aged About 18 Years R/o Mudhipar Tahsil Bodari District - Bilaspur (C.G.) 2 - Abhay Baghel S/o Shri Gauri Shankar Baghel Aged About 14 Years R/o Mudhipar Tahsil Bodari District - Bliaspur (C.G.) (Minor Representing Here Through His Sister Nistha Baghel) ... Petitioner(s) versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Its Secretary, General Administration Department, Mantralaya, Mahanadi Bhawan, New Raipur, District Raipur (C.G.) 2 - Tahsildar Tahsil Bodari District Bilaspur (C.G.) 3 - Sub Divisional Officer Tahsil Boadari, Sub Division Belha District Bilaspur (C.G.) 4 - Collector District Bilaspur (C.G.) ... Respondent(s) For Petitioner(s) : Ms. Prachi Diwan, Advocate For Respondent(s) : Mr. Soumitra Kesharwani, Panel Lawyer Hon’ble Mr. Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad Order on Board 15.07.2026 1. This petition has been filed by the petitioner seeking for the following relief(s):- “10.1. That, this Hon’ble Court may kindly be pleased to direct the ABHIGYA SAXENA Digitally signed by ABHIGYA SAXENA 2 respondent authorities for considering the case of petitioners and also direct to respondent authority to issue permanent caste certificate to the petitioners. 10.2. That this Hon’ble Court may kindly be pleased to grant any other ancillary relief by issuing any other suitable writ, direction or order, deems fit in the facts and circumstances of the case including cost of petition.” 2. The present petition is filed to assail their arbitrary and illegal inaction of the respondent authorities in failing to issue permanent caste certificates to the petitioners. The petitioners belong to the Mehar community, which is recognized as a Scheduled Caste, and the respondent authorities themselves have acknowledged this fact by issuing temporary caste certificates in their favour. However, when the petitioners applied for issuance of permanent caste certificates, their applications were returned solely on the ground that no document pertaining to the period prior to the year 1950, reflecting the caste of the petitioners or their ancestors, had been enclosed with the applications. It is respectfully submitted that such action is wholly arbitrary, unreasonable, and contrary to the applicable guidelines governing the issuance of permanent caste certificates, inasmuch as the respondent authorities have 3 failed to consider and act in accordance with the said guidelines and have, without any lawful justification, withheld the issuance of permanent caste certificates to the petitioners, thereby violating their legitimate rights. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the limited grievances of the petitioners is that the petitioners have submitted an application for issuance of Permanent Caste Certificate and the same has been returned by the authorities concerned. The petitioners are already having a temporary case certificate in their favour and it may also be noted that father and sister of the petitioners are already have permanent caste certificate, therefore, the finite prayer of the petitioners are that the authorities concerned may be directed to consider the application of the petitioners and decide the same by granting permanent caste certificate in their favour in accordance with the relevant rules/law. 4. Learned counsel for the State submits that the petitioners have failed to furnish the requisite and relevant documents necessary for consideration of their applications and, therefore, in the absence of such documents, the competent authority was unable to grant the permanent caste certificates in their favour. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the documents with utmost care. 6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, and without expressing any opinion on the merits thereof, the present petition 4 is disposed of with a direction to the petitioners to submit a fresh application before the competent respondent authority for issuance of a permanent caste certificate within a period of 15 days from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order. Upon such application being submitted, the concerned respondent authority shall consider the same and pass a reasoned and speaking order, strictly in accordance with law, within a period of 60 days from the date of its submission, while also keeping in view the fact that permanent caste certificates have already been issued in favour of the petitioners' father and sister. In the event the documents furnished by the petitioners are found to be insufficient or inadequate, it shall be open to the concerned authority to require the petitioners to produce such further or additional documents as may be necessary for proper adjudication of their claim. 7. Accordingly, this petition is disposed of with the aforesaid observation and direction. Sd/- (Amitendra Kishore Prasad) Judge Saxena