1 2026:CGHC:19864 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPC No. 2093 of 2026 1 - Prabhat Pandey S/o- Late Shri Mohanji Pandey Aged About 64 Years R/o- D-17, Nikhil Bangle Face 3, Hoshangabad Road, Bhopal (M.P.) ... Petitioner(s) versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Secretary, Department Of Tribal And Schedule Caste Welfare Department, Atal Nagar, Naya Raipur, District- Raipur (C.G.) 2 - High - Level Caste Scrutiny Committee, Through Chairman, Directorate Of Tribal Research And Training Institute Sector-24, Naya Raipur, District- Raipur (C.G.) 3 - The Collector, District- Bilaspur (C.G.) 4 - District Level Caste Verification Committee Through Its Member Secretary, Bilaspur District- Bilaspur (C.G.) 5 - The Tehsildar, Bilaspur (C.G.) 6 - The State Of Madhya Pradesh, Through Its Secretary,department Of VISHAKHA BEOHAR Digitally signed by VISHAKHA BEOHAR 2 Tribal And Schedule Caste Welfare Department Bhopal (M.P.) 7 - Principal Secretary, Commercial Tax Department, Vallabh Bhawan, Bhopal M.P. 8 - Commissioner Of Excise, New Composite Revenue Building, Fourth Floor, Chandravadni, Lashkar, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. 9 - Rejesh Henry, Additional Commercial Of Excise, Office Of Excise Commissioner , Gwalior M.P. ... Respondents (Cause-title taken from the Case Information System) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For Petitioner :- Mr. Parag Kotecha, Advocate For State :- Mr. Rajkumar Gupta, Addl. A.G. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SB- Hon'ble Shri Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad Order On Board 28.04.2026 1. By way of the present writ petition filed under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India, the petitioner seeks issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the respondents, particularly respondent No. 4, to conclude the proceedings relating to verification of the social status certificate of respondent No. 9 within a stipulated time frame. 2. The brief facts, as projected by the petitioner, are that respondent No. 9 is presently holding the post of Additional Commissioner of Excise in the State of Madhya Pradesh and had secured his appointment on the basis of a social status certificate. The 3 petitioner has raised a grievance that the said certificate is forged and fabricated. It is submitted that the petitioner had made a complaint dated 22.06.2024 before the competent authorities seeking verification of the said certificate. Thereafter, various representations and complaints were made by the petitioner to different authorities; however, no final decision has been taken till date. It is further submitted that the matter regarding verification of the social status certificate of respondent No. 9 is pending consideration before respondent No. 4—District Level Caste Verification Committee, Bilaspur. 3. Following reliefs have been prayed by way of this petition:- “1. Issue a writ of mandamus directing Respondent Nos. 2 and 4 to conclude caste verification proceedings of Respondent No. 9 within a fixed time frame. II Direct respondents to produce entire records relating to the caste certificate. Direct initiation of appropriate legal action if the certificate is found invalid and further please to direct the respondents and its authorities to issue a direction to Restrain Respondent No. 9 from availing further benefits of reservation, subject to verification outcome; III. The Hon'ble Court may kindly be please to call the records of the court's below. IV Any other relief which this Hon'ble Court deems fit and proper under the facts and 4 circumstances of the case and in the interest of justice and cost of the petition may be awarded in favour of the petitioner.” 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that despite lapse of considerable time, the complaint made by the petitioner is still pending before respondent No. 4 for consideration. It is argued that such inaction on the part of the authorities is arbitrary and defeats the very purpose of verification of caste certificates. It is further submitted that since the proceedings are already pending before respondent No. 4, a direction may be issued to the said authority to consider and decide the same expeditiously within a time-bound manner. 5. Learned State counsel, on the other hand, submits that the matter is under consideration before the competent authority and appropriate steps shall be taken in accordance with law. It is submitted that a reasonable time may be granted to the authority to conclude the proceedings. 6. Having heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the material available on record, this Court finds that the grievance of the petitioner is primarily with regard to inaction on the part of respondent No. 4 in deciding the complaint relating to verification of the social status certificate of respondent No. 9. It is not in dispute that the proceedings are pending consideration before respondent No. 4. Once a complaint has been made and the 5 matter is seized by the competent authority, the same is required to be decided within a reasonable period. 7. In the considered opinion of this Court, no useful purpose would be served in keeping the present petition pending, and ends of justice would be met if a direction is issued to the competent authority to decide the matter expeditiously. 8. Accordingly, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, the present petition is disposed of with a direction to respondent No. 4—District Level Caste Verification Committee, Bilaspur, to consider and decide the complaint of the petitioner, in accordance with law, as expeditiously as possible. 9. It is further directed that the said authority shall afford an opportunity of hearing to all concerned parties before passing any final order. 10. With the aforesaid direction, the writ petition stands disposed of. 11. No order as to costs. sd/- (Amitendra Kishore Prasad) Judge Vishakha