Miss. Sarika Baburao Hatkar v. Divisional Caste Scrutiny Committee No. 2, Kolhapur And ORS.

Sherla V.

wp.9016.2014_6.doc

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO.9016 OF 2014 Miss Sarika Baburao Hatkar ... Petitioner Vs.

Divisional Caste Scrutiny Committee No.2, Kolhapur & Ors.

... Respondents Mr.Surel Shah for the Petitioner Mr.Vikas Mali, Assistant Government Pleader, for Respondent No.1 Mr.R.R. Lokare i/b R.V. Govilkar for Resp. No.3 CORAM: SMT. VASANTI A. NAIK & SHRI C.V. BHADANG, JJ.

DATE: 3rd MARCH, 2015 P.C.:

By this petition, the petitioner seeks a direction to the respondent scrutiny committee to decide the caste claim of the petitioner. The petitioner seeks protection of her education till her caste claim is decided. Mr.Mali, the learned Assistant Government Pleader, appearing on behalf of the State Government, states on instructions, that the caste claim of the petitioner is pending and the scrutiny committee would decide the same as early as possible.

In view of the statement made by the learned Assistant Government Pleader, we dispose of the writ petition with a direction to the Scrutiny 1 / 2

wp.9016.2014_6.doc Committee to decide the caste claim of the petitioner as early as possible and positively within a period of 9 months from the date of the appearance of the petitioner before the Scrutiny Committee. The petitioner undertakes to appear before the Scrutiny Committee on 30.3.2015. Since the petitioner was not at fault in not producing the caste validity certificate within time, the education of the petitioner is protected till her caste claim is decided. The respondents should declare the result of the petitioner and permit the petitioner to prosecute her studies till her caste claim is decided. Order accordingly. No costs.

(C.V. BHADANG, J.) (VASANTI A. NAIK, J.) 2 / 2