404 WP 9151-26.DOC IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 9151 OF 2026 Shraddha Dipak Shinde ...Petitioner Versus The State of Maharashtra & Anr. ...Respondents _______ Mr. Sahil Choudhari for Petitioners. Mr. Akshay Prakash Shinde, ‘B’ Panel Councel a/w V. G. Badgujar, AGP for Respondent-State. _______ CORAM: G. S. KULKARNI & AARTI SATHE, JJ. DATE: 27 JULY 2026 P.C. 1. This petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India is filed praying for the following sole substantive relief:- “(B) To direct the Respondent No.2-Committee to decide Tribe Claim of the Petitioner within a stipulated period as this Hon’ble Court deems fit which is pending since 21.11.2025 considering the urgency that the Petitioner is aspiring admission to the Engineering Course from Scheduled Tribe category in the academic year 2026-27, by issuing appropriate writ, orders, or directions as the case may be;” 2. It is the Petitioner's grievance that Respondent No. 2 the Caste Scrutiny Committee has not taken any decision on the Petitioner's application dated 21 November 2025, which is still pending consideration. It is the Petitioner's contention that she has obtained caste certificate certifying her as belonging to the Thakar Scheduled Tribe from the Sub-Divisional Officer, Revenue, Shirur. 3. The Petitioner submitted proposal for verification of her Tribe claim before Respondent No.2-Committee through the college authorities by online process and along with the said proposal, the Petitioner submitted the necessary documentary evidence since 1929 showing the caste status as Thakar. The Laxmi JYOTI RAJESH MANE Digitally signed by JYOTI RAJESH MANE Date: 2026.08.03 17:14:21 +0530 404 WP 9151-26.DOC Petitioner appeared for MHT-CET-2026 examination for admission to the Engineering Course against the seat reserved for Scheduled Tribe category and the Petitioner has from time-to-time requested Respondent No.2 Committee for conducting verification of the Petitioner’s claim. The Petitioner has also sent the representation dated 21 November 2025 to Respondent No.2 which has not been decided so far. It is the Petitioner's grievance that this representation dated 21 November 2025 has to be taken to its logical conclusion and be decided as per mandate of law. 4. In view of the limited relief prayed by the Petitioner in the present Petition and although there being no written opposition/reply of the Respondents and considering the nature of the orders which we propose to pass, no prejudice would be caused to the Respondents. The following order would serve the ends of justice:- ORDER i. Respondent No.2-Committee is directed to consider and decide the pending application dated 21 November 2025 as per law, as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of five weeks from the date this order is made available to the said Respondent by the Petitioner. ii. Let all the parties be heard. iii. All rights and contentions of the parties are expressly kept open. iv. The Petition is disposed of accordingly. No costs. (AARTI SATHE, J.) (G. S. KULKARNI, J.) Laxmi