1 16 wp6814.26.odt IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY NAGPUR BENCH : NAGPUR WRIT PETITION NO.6814 OF 2026 Sonal Atmaram Bramhan vs. District Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee, Washim, thr.its Member Secretary and Research Officer, Washim and anr Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Court' s or Judge' s Order Coram, appearances, Court' s Orders or directions and Registrar' s order Shri Sandeep Marathe, Counsel for the Petitioner. Shri S.S.Hulke, AGP for Respondent No.1. Shri Nikhil Gaikwad, Counsel for Respondent No.2. CORAM : URMILA JOSHI-PHALKE & RAJ D.WAKODE, JJ. DATED : 02nd SEPTEMBER, 2026. 1. Heard learned counsel Shri Sandeep Marathe for the petitioner - student; learned Assistant Government Pleader Shri S.S.Hulke for respondent No.1 – District Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee, Washim; and learned counsel Shri Nikhil Gaikwad for respondent No.2 – Commissioner, Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (CET), Mumbai. 2. By this petition, the petitioner – student has approached this court seeking directions to respondent No.1 – District Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee, Washim (the Committee) to decide her caste claim towards “Mathura Labhan Vimukta Jati(A)” within a stipulated period. 2026:BHC-NAG:11601-DB 2 16 wp6814.26.odt 3. Contention is that, the petitioner – student has submitted her caste claim for verification to the Committee on 19.7.2026. An acknowledgment to that effect is at page No.25 (Annexure- 2). In the meanwhile, she has appeared for NEET (UG-2026) Examination wherein she has scored sufficient marks and is included in Provisional Selection List for MBBS Course. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner – student submits that though the petitioner – student has applied under “Mathura Labhan Vimukta Jati(A),” the Authority has placed the petitioner – student in “OBC NCL” since the process is at Central Level. However, fact remains that the petitioner – student has applied under “Mathura Labhan Vimukta Jati(A).” The aforesaid fact is substantiated by the application form of the petitioner – student. However, the Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (CET), while issuing the Provisional Selection List for Admission to the MBBS Course for the Academic Year 2026-2027 in CAT Round-1, has mentioned the category of the petitioner – student as “Open” (Women). 5. Being aggrieved by such inaction on the part of the Committee in not deciding the caste claim of the petitioner – student and the action on the part of respondent No.2 - Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (CET) in placing the petitioner – student in wrong category, the petitioner – student has approached this court. 3 16 wp6814.26.odt 6. Learned Assistant Government Pleader, upon instructions, submits that the caste claim of the petitioner – student shall be decided within a period of three months from today. 7. Learned counsel for respondent No.2 - Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (CET) also does not dispute the aforesaid position that the application of the petitioner – student to the Committee or respondent No.2 - Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (CET) was under “Mathura Labhan Vimukta Jati(A).” Accordingly, he submits that necessary correction will be carried out. 8. Learned counsel for the petitioner – student also invites our attention to Caste Validity Certificate issued by the Committee to her father, which is at page No.92. 9. In view of the aforesaid fact and statement made by learned Assistant Government Pleader for respondent No.1 – District Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee, Washim, we dispose of the present writ petition, as per order below: ORDER (1) The Writ Petition is allowed. (2) The respondent No.1 – District Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee, Washim shall decide the caste claim of the petitioner – student towards “Mathura Labhan Vimukta Jati(A)” within a period of 3 months from today. 4 16 wp6814.26.odt (3) The petitioner – student shall cooperate with the Committee in expeditious disposal of her caste claim without seeking unnecessary adjournments. (4) Respondent No.2 – Commissioner, Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (CET), Mumbai shall consider the petitioner – student under “Vimukta Jati(A) Category” for further admission process, as per the application made by the petitioner – student. (5) Respondent No.2 – Commissioner, Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (CET), Mumbai is also directed not to insist the petitioner – student for submission of her Caste Validity Certificate for completion of the aforesaid admission process. (6) Needless to mention that the aforesaid admission of the petitioner – student would be subject to final outcome of the caste claim decided by the Committee. (7) With this, the writ petition is disposed of. No costs. (8) Copy of this order duly authenticated be furnished to learned counsel appearing for the parties. [JUDGE] [JUDGE] !! BrWankhede !! Signed by: Mr. B. R. Wankhede Designation: PS To Honourable Judge Date: 03/09/2026 13:49:00