Soniya Premnath Pedhavi v. The State Of Maharashtra Throu. Its Sec. Tribal Development Dept And ORS

TRUPTI SADANAND BAMNE TRUPTI SADANAND BAMNE Date: 2025.02.20 10:35:06 +0530

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 2217 OF 2025 Soniya Premnath Pedhavi ...

Petitioner versus State of Maharashtra & Ors.

...

Respondents ---- Mr.R.K.Mendadkar with Ms.Komal Gaikwad for the Petitioner. Mr.V.G.Badgujar, AGP for Respondent Nos. 1 and 2, State. ---- CORAM :

RAVINDRA V. GHUGE & ASHWIN D. BHOBE, JJ.

DATE :

17th February, 2025 P.C. :- 1.

The Petitioner is working as a Branch Postmaster with Respondent No.3. Her claim of belonging to the 'Koli Mahadev' Scheduled Tribe category is pending validation. She has also received Form "C" 'Koli Mahadev' Scheduled Tribe certificate. Without a validity, she may not be able to continue in employment since she has been selected and appointed on a post which was reserved for the Scheduled Tribe category. She submits that she is willing to tender the usual affidavit in this Court for seeking protection of her service until her claim is validated, either by the Committee or by the Court, in the event the Committee rejects her claim.

2.

For easy correspondence between the Committee and the Petitioner, she has tendered her email address and WhatsApp cell number, as under :

Email address : - pedhavisoniya21@gmail.com WhatsApp Number :- 8767945370 3.

In view of the above, this Writ Petition is disposed off with the following directions :

(a) the Committee would enter into correspondence with the Petitioner on her email address and /or WhatsApp number;

(b) the Petitioner would render wholehearted cooperation to the Committee and refrain from seeking adjournments on unreasonable or trivial grounds, lest, the Committee would be justified in progressing to the next stage in the proceeding;

(c) the Petitioner would tender an affidavit undertaking stating that she would continue to be a probationer, would not demand permanency, would not claim increments for pay revision and would not claim service benefits until her claim is validated by the Committee or by the Court;

(d) the Petitioner shall tender such affidavit undertaking within a period of 21 days from today in this Court and a copy to Respondent No. 3, within the same time, as noted above.

(e) Let the Committee decide the pending proposal by following the due procedure and deliver an order, on or before 31st August, 2025.

4.

Needless to state, we have not expressed any opinion on the merits of the Petitioner's case and all contentions are kept open, to be canvassed and to be considered by the Committee on its merits.

(ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.) (RAVINDRA V. GHUGE, J.)