1 63-WP-10206-26.odt IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY BENCH AT AURANGABAD WRIT PETITION NO. 10206 OF 2026 SHARDHA NAGNATH PANCHAL VERSUS THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THROUGH THE SECRETARY AND OTHERS ... Mr. Sachin S. Deogude, Advocate for the Petitioner Mr. S. R. Wakle, AGP for Respondents/State Mr. S. R. Dheple, Advocate for respondent No.3 ... CORAM : NITIN B. SURYAWANSHI AND ABASAHEB D. SHINDE, JJ. DATE : 19th AUGUST, 2026 PER COURT : 1. This petition challenges the communications dated 05/02/2026, 11/07/2026 and 27/07/2026 passed by the respondents, thereby rejecting request of the petitioner for correction of his caste in school record. Petitioner applied for correction of his caste from ‘Sutar’ to ‘Lohar’. The said proposal is rejected by the Headmaster on the ground that, he does not have authority for correction. 2. The Headmaster under Rule 26.4 of the Secondary Schools Code, has to forward the proposal to the Education Officer. He has no jurisdiction to reject the proposal on the ground stated in the said communication. SVH 2026:BHC-AUG:37831-DB 2 63-WP-10206-26.odt 3. Writ Petition is, therefore, allowed. The impugned communication/remark issued by the Headmaster is quashed and set-aside. The Headmaster shall forward the representation of petitioner to the Education Officer, within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order. The Education Officer shall decide the said proposal within a period of two weeks thereafter. 4. It is made clear that the Education Officer shall not reject the said proposal only on the ground that the petitioner is no more student of the said school. (ABASAHEB D. SHINDE, J.) (NITIN B. SURYAWANSHI, J.) SVH