(1) 2.wp.6925.2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY NAGPUR BENCH : NAGPUR WRIT PETITION NO.6925 OF 2026 Prathamesh s/o Sunil Khar Vs. The Vice-Chairman/ Member-Secretary, Scheduled Tribe Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee, Amravati and others -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, Court's or Judge's orders appearances, Court's orders of directions and Registrar's orders -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ms. Himani Kavi, Advocate for petitioner. Ms. S. S. Jachak, AGP for respondent No.1/State. Mr. Nikhil Gaikwad, Advocate for respondent No.3. CORAM : URMILA JOSHI-PHALKE AND RAJ D. WAKODE, JJ. DATED : 03/09/2026 1. By this petition, the petitioner made a limited prayer that is the direction to the Scheduled Tribe Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee, Amravati to decide the caste claim of the petitioner expeditiously. 2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner, who submitted that the petitioner belongs to the “Thakur” Scheduled Tribe. The caste claim of the petitioner towards “Thakur” Scheduled Tribe came to be forwarded to the Scrutiny Committee along with necessary documents for the purpose of caste verification on 07.01.2026. On 19.08.2026 the petitioner got admitted in respondent No.2-college for pursuing B.Sc. (Agriculture) course. Despite the petitioner has made many representations dated 20.07.2026, 10.08.2026, 18.08.2026, 27.08.2026 and 31.08.2026, the respondent 2026:BHC-NAG:11685-DB (2) 2.wp.6925.2026 Committee has not decided the caste claim of the present petitioner expeditiously. As the petitioner is now admitted in respondent No.2-college by pursuing B.Sc., he is insisted for Caste Validity Certificate. As the caste claim is not decided, therefore, he is unable to produce the same and, therefore, there is apprehension of losing the admission. In view of that, the Committee be directed to decide the caste claim of the petitioner expeditiously. She further submitted that petitoner’s admission be protected in the meantime. 3. Learned AGP, on instructions, submitted that the Committee can decide the said caste claim within two months. 4. After hearing both sides and on considering the aspect that the petitioner is required to produce the Validity Certificate, the respondent No.3 shall consider his candidature from the Scheduled Tribe and shall not take any steps to cancel his admission for want of Validity Certificate. 5. Now, this aspect is already considered by the Government by Government Notification and protection is already granted to the candidates belongs to the Special Backward Class (SBC) and Other Backward Class (OBC), the same benefit can be extended to the other caste and tribe also. In view of that, we proceed to pas following order: ORDER (i) The respondent No.1 shall decide the caste claim of the petitioner within a period of two months. (ii) In the meantime, the respondent No.3 shall not take any steps to cancel the admission of the present petitioner and no coercive action shall be (3) 2.wp.6925.2026 taken against him for want of Caste Validity Certificate. (iii) The admission of the petitioner would be subject to the final outcome of the petition. He shall not claim any equity. With this the petition is disposed of. (RAJ D. WAKODE, J) (URMILA JOSHI-PHALKE, J) Sarkate Signed by: Mr. A.R. Sarkate Designation: PA To Honourable Judge Date: 04/09/2026 16:52:25