11.WP.7077.2026 1/3 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR WRIT PETITION NO. 7077 OF 2026 Shri Prathamesh Ganesh Narnaware Vs. The Joint Commissioner Cum Vice Chairman, the Scheduled Tribe Certificate Scrutiny Committee, Gondia & Ors. ______________________________________________________________________________ Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, Appearances, Court's orders of directions Court's or Judge's order and Registrar's orders. Mr. N.D. Jambhule, Advocate for the Petitioner. Mr. S.V. Narale, AGP for Respondent No.1/State. Mr. Nikhil Gaikwad, Advocate for Respondent Nos.3 & 4. ------------------------------- CORAM : URMILA JOSHI-PHALKE AND R AJ D. WAKODE , JJ. DATE : 07.09.2026 By this petition, the petitioner seeks directions to respondent No.1 – the Scheduled Tribe Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee, Gondia, to decide the caste claim of the present petitioner expeditiously. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner, who submitted that the petitioner claims of belonging to the ‘Mana’ Scheduled Tribe. His caste claim was forwarded to the Committee on 23.02.2024. Since then, the same is pending with the Committee. In the meantime, the petitioner is admitted to respondent No.2 – College in the course of Computer Engineering. The admission depends upon the production of a validity certificate. However, considering that the claim of the present petitioner is pending, there is a likelihood of cancellation of the admission of the present petitioner on account of his candidature being from the 2026:BHC-NAG:11842-DB 11.WP.7077.2026 2/3 Scheduled Tribe category. In view of the same, a direction be given to respondent Nos.2 to 4 not to cancel the admission. 3. Learned AGP and learned counsel for respondent Nos.3 and 4, Mr. Gaikwad, submitted that, considering the pre-condition, the prayer of the present petitioner is not sustainable. 4. We have considered the aspect that the petitioner is already admitted to respondent No.2 – College and that his admission is from the Scheduled Tribe category. Now, this aspect is already considered by the State Government by issuing a Notification dated 04.09.2026, wherein all other categories are considered, but the Scheduled Tribe category is excluded. We are of the considered opinion that the Scheduled Tribe category can also be considered and time can be granted to the present petitioner to produce the validity certificate. 5. Learned AGP, upon instructions, makes a statement that the claim of the petitioner can be decided within six months from today. In view of the same, we proceed to pass the following order: ORDER (i) The writ petition is allowed. (ii) The respondent No.1 – Committee shall dispose of the caste claim of the present petitioner within six months from today. 11.WP.7077.2026 3/3 (iii) In the meantime, respondent Nos.2 to 4 shall not cancel the admission of the present petitioner for want of a validity certificate. (iv) The admission of the present petitioner would be subject to the final outcome of the caste claim of the present petitioner, if he is otherwise eligible. The petitioner shall not seek any equity on that ground. 6. The petition is accordingly disposed of. No costs. (RAJ D. WAKODE, J.) (URMILA JOSHI-PHALKE, J.) Vijaykumar Signed by: Mr. Vijay Kumar Designation: PA To Honourable Judge Date: 07/09/2026 20:57:31