Gajanan Ananda Chikatwad v. The State Of Maharashtra And Others

WP 361/19 - 1 -

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

BENCH AT AURANGABAD 22 WRIT PETITION NO.361 OF 2019 GAJANAN ANANDA CHIKATWAD

VERSUS

THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS ...

Advocate for Petitioners : Shri Jadhavar Pratap V. AGP for Respondent nos.1 & 2: Shri A.R. Kale Respondent nos.3 and 4 served.

CORAM: NARESH H. PATIL, CJ & V.M. DESHPANDE, J.

DATE: 25.03.2019 PER COURT :

1] The petitioner's caste verification claim submitted in February, 2018, is said to be pending before the respondent no.2 - committee. The petitioner approached this Court consequent upon issuance of communication dated 24.12.2018 issued by the employer, annexed at page no.19 of the petition.

2] Without expressing any opinion on merits of the petitioner's claim, we dispose of this petition by issuing following directions:- A] The respondent no.2 - committee shall

WP 361/19 - 2 - decide petitioner's caste verification claim as expeditiously as possible and not later than four months from the date of receipt of order of this Court.

B] The petitioner undertakes to cooperate with the committee. In case the petitioner fails to cooperate with the committee, the committee shall be at liberty to decide the claim on the basis of material placed before it.

C] Needless to mention that the committee shall follow the required mandatory procedure in verifying the caste claim of the petitioner. D] Ad interim relief granted by this Court on 11.1.2019 shall continue for a period of four months from today as it is submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner that the petitioner is still in service.

(V.M. DESHPANDE, J.) CHIEF JUSTICE ndk/c253193.doc