( 1 ) wp10435.26 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY BENCH AT AURANGABAD 929 WRIT PETITION NO. 10435 OF 2026 AKASH RAJARAM KULEWAR VERSUS THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THROUGH ITS SECRETARY AND OTHERS Mr. S.S. Phatale, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. S.R. Yadav – Lonikar, AGP for the respondent-State. Mr. A.R.Lukhe h/f. Mr. A.S. Shelke, Advocate for respondent No.3. CORAM : KISHORE C. SANT & JITENDRA JAIN, JJ. DATE : 18.08.2026 PC :- 01. Heard. The employer – respondent No.3 has issued notice to the petitioner dated 13.08.2026 asking him to submit caste validity certificate before 23.08.2026. The caste claim of the petitioner is, however, pending before the Scrutiny Committee since 20.02.2026. Learned Advocate for the petitioner vehemently argued that it is not in the hands of the petitioner to get the proceeding before the Scrutiny Committee disposed off expeditiously. The reason for non-submission of validity certificate is beyond his control. If petitioner’s services are not protected, there is risk of losing of job. 02. Learned AGP submits that vigilance cell report is already submitted. Hearing has also taken place. Reply is also filed. Due to 2026:BHC-AUG:37138-DB ( 2 ) wp10435.26 administrative difficulties the claim could not be decided till now. He, however, submits that the same can be decided within eight weeks from today. 03. Considering the above, the respondent - Scrutiny Committee is requested to complete the proceeding before it within eight weeks from today. No adverse action be taken against the petitioner for a period of eight weeks from today or till the respondent - Scrutiny Committee decides claim of the petitioner, whichever is earlier. 04. In view of the above, the Communication dated 13.08.2026 issued by respondent No.3 in the nature of notice stands quashed and set aside. It is open for the respondent No.3 to take appropriate action in case the claim of the petitioner in invalidated. 05. With the above, this Writ Petition stands disposed off. [JITENDRA JAIN, J.] [KISHORE C. SANT, J.] snk/2026/Aug26/wp10435.26