Leena Sanjiv Thakur (Minor) Through Her Father Sanjiv Laxman Thakur v. State Of Maharashtra And ORS

910.WP10567_2014.doc Vidya Amin

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION No. 10567 OF 2014 Leena Sanjiv Thakur (Minor) through her father Sanjiv Laxman Thakur ... Petitioner vs.

The State of Maharashtra & Ors.

...

Respondents Mr. R.K. Mendadkar, Advocate for the petitioner. Ms. S.S. Bhende, AGP for respondent nos. 1 and 2. CORAM : SMT. VASANTI A. NAIK & C.V. BHADANG, JJ.

DATE : 18th February, 2015.

P.C.

Heard.

By this Petition, the petitioner seeks a direction to the respondent no. 2/Scrutiny Committee to decide the caste claim of the petitioner as expeditiously as possible. The petitioner also seeks the protection of her education till her caste claim is decided.

Ms. Bhende, the learned Assistant Government Pleader, on instructions from the Scrutiny Committee, states that the caste claim of the petitioner is pending before the Scrutiny Committee and the same would be decided as early as possible.

In view of the statement made by the learned Assistant

910.WP10567_2014.doc Government Pleader, we dispose of the Writ Petition with a direction to the Scrutiny Committee to decide the caste claim of the petitioner as early as possible and positively within a period of nine months from the date of appearance of the petitioner before the Scrutiny Committee. The petitioner undertakes to appear before the Scrutiny Committee on 3rd March, 2015. Since the petitioner was not at fault in not producing the caste validity certificate, the education of the petitioner is protected till her caste claim is decided, meaning thereby, that the University should accept the examination form of the petitioner and the respondent nos. 4 and 5 should permit the petitioner to prosecute her studies till her caste claim is decided.

Order accordingly. No order as to costs.

(C.V. BHADANG, J.) (VASANTI A. NAIK, J.)