Rudraksha Devanand Mekale v. The State Of Maharashtra Through Its Secretary And Others

2025:BHC-AUG:26426-DB

IN THE JUDICATURE OF HIGH COURT AT BOMBAY

BENCH AT AURANGABAD 924 WRIT PETITION NO. 11752 OF 2025 Rudraksha Devanand Mekale

VERSUS

The State Of Maharashtra Through Its Secretary And Others ...

Advocate for the Petitioner : Mr. Manish L. Pithare a/w Mr. Sagar D. Madake h/f Mr. Golegaonkar Madhur A.

AGP for Respondents-State: Ms. K. B. Patil Bharaswadkar ...

CORAM

: R. G. AVACHAT & ABASAHEB D. SHINDE, JJ.

Dated : SEPTEMBER 25, 2025 PER COURT : - 1.

Heard.

2.

The petitioner challenges the order dated 06/08/2025 passed by respondent No. 2 - Caste Scrutiny Committee, whereby the tribe claim of the petitioner, belonging to 'Koli Mahadev', Scheduled Tribe, was invalidated.

3.

The learned Counsel for the petitioner has invited our attention to the order passed by this Court dated 14/01/2021 in Writ Petition No. 9046/2020 in respect of Rutula Devanand Mekale, the sister of the petitioner, to whom this Court had granted validity, subject to the outcome of any proceedings reopened of the validity holders relied by the said petitioner. Our attention has also been drawn to the caste validity certificate granted in favour of the father of the petitioner by the Caste Scrutiny Committee. In view of the same, we deem it appropriate to adopt the same criteria in allowing the present petition. Page 1 of

924 WP 11752-2025

ORDER

a) The writ petition is allowed.

b) The impugned order dated 06/08/2025 passed by respondent No. 2 - Caste Scrutiny Committee, invalidating the caste claim of the petitioner belonging to 'Koli Mahadev', Scheduled Tribe, is quashed and set aside.

c) Respondent No. 2 - Caste Scrutiny Committee shall immediately issue a tribe validity certificate to the petitioner as belonging to 'Koli Mahadev', Scheduled Tribe in the prescribed proforma.

d) The validity certificate of the petitioner shall be subject to the outcome of verification to be undertaken by the Caste Scrutiny Committee of the validity holders on whom the petitioner is relying.

e) The petitioner shall not be entitled to claim any service or other benefits solely on the basis of the caste certificate until the verification process is completed.

f) With the above directions, the petition stands disposed of.

( ABASAHEB D. SHINDE, J. ) ( R. G. AVACHAT, J. ) vj gawade/-.

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