Bajrang Venkat Ganjewar v. The State Of Maharashtra And Others

2025:BHC-AUG:32831-DB 1 975-wp 14274-2025.odt

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

BENCH AT AURANGABAD WRIT PETITION NO. 14274 OF 2025 Bajrang Venkat Ganjewar .. Petitioner

Versus

The State Of Maharashtra And Others .. Respondents Mr. Pratap V. Jadhavar, Advocate for Petitioner. Smt. Jayashri P. Reddy, AGP for Respondent Nos. 1 to 3. CORAM : KISHORE C. SANT AND ABASAHEB D. SHINDE, JJ.

DATE : 28th NOVEMBER 2025.

PER COURT :- 1.

The petitioner has approached this Court challenging the judgment and order dated 14.11.2022 passed by the learned member of the caste scrutiny committee, Kinwat. The petitioner has filed appeal as the learned S.D.O. had refused to grant him a tribe certificate as belongs to Koli Mahadev. The learned S.D.O. rejected the application mainly on the ground that the petitioner has not produced any document prior to 1950 in support of his application. Other documents which are filed are of recent origin. The committee also did not interfere on the same grounds. Thus,

2 975-wp 14274-2025.odt the petitioner has come to this Court.

2.

The learned advocate for the petitioner vehemently argues that, at this stage, the learned S.D.O. is only required to satisfy himself about prima facie case and not to insist for any evidence. It is for the scrutiny committee to go into all the aspects in detail. The learned advocate further submits that, along with the application the petitioner has produced on record copy of caste certificate in the name of his father and still, the learned S.D.O. has refused to grant the certificate.

3.

This Court finds that, the learned S.D.O. has rejected the application only on the grounds stated above. It is the scheme of the Act that learned S.D.O. is only supposed to give the caste certificate. It is for the caste scrutiny committee/tribe scrutiny committee to go into the aspect in details and it is only that stage the validity is granted. The petitioner is deprived of the opportunity to prove his caste status. This Court finds that, a case is made out to allow the petition.

4.

The writ petition stands allowed in terms of prayer clauses (B) and (C). The petitioner to approach the learned S.D.O.,

3 975-wp 14274-2025.odt Degloor on 02.12.2025. The learned S.D.O. to take decision within a period of two (02) weeks from thereafter. 5.

With this, the writ petition stands disposed of. ( ABASAHEB D. SHINDE, J.) ( KISHORE C. SANT, J. ) P.S.B.