Chidanand Siddhappa Unnad v. The State Of Maharashtra Throu. Its Sec. Social Justice Dept And ORS

66-WP-9688-2024 (C).doc

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 9688 OF 2024 Chidanand Siddhappa Unnad

...Petitioner

Versus

The State Of Maharashtra And Ors

...Respondents

.....

Adv. Rakesh Bhatkar a/w Adv. Mohit Dalvi and Adv. Aarya Ambulkar, for Petitioner.

Ms. Tejas Jayprakash Kapre, A.G.P. for Respondent- State. .....

CORAM : R.G. AVACHAT & AJIT B. KADETHANKAR, JJ.

DATE : 5th FEBRUARY 2026.

P.C:

1.

The petitioner claims to have belonged to Hindu-Koshti, other backward class (OBC). His caste claim has been invalidated by the respondent No.2- Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee. He is, therefore, before us.

2.

We have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record.

3.

Admittedly, son of the petitioner has been granted validity way back in February-2012. The said validity still holds the field. The respondent - Scrutiny Committee appears to have proposed to reopen ZIP

66-WP-9688-2024 (C).doc the case of the petitioner's son.

4.

When blood relative of the petitioner namely his son holds validity certificate, the petitioner is entitled to validation of his caste certificate. Since we have not examined the matter on merit, the validity to be granted to the petitioner shall be co-terminus with the validity certificate held by the petitioner's son. 5.

In view of the above, we allowed the writ petition in terms of following order :

ORDER

a) The impugned order dated 11th June 2024, is hereby set aside.

b) The respondent-Scrutiny Committee is directed to issue validity certificate of the caste Hindu-Koshti to the petitioner.

c) The validity certificate to be issued in favour of the petitioner, shall be co-terminus with the validity certificate issued to his son Siddhesh Chidanand Unnad. [AJIT B. KADETHANKAR, J.] [R.G. AVACHAT, J.] ZIP