Shashikant Machindra Gajare v. The State Of Maharashtra Thr. The Secretary School Education And Sports Dept. And ORS.

2026:BHC-AUG:874-DB 1 940 WP 325-26

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

BENCH AT AURANGABAD 940 WRIT PETITION NO. 325 OF 2026 SWAPNIL RAJIV SONWANE

VERSUS

THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THROUGH ITS SECRETARY AND ANOTHER ...

Mr. Murge Estling S., Advocate for the Petitioner Mr. V. M. Jaware, AGP for Respondent-State ....

CORAM : SANDIPKUMAR C. MORE AND ABASAHEB D. SHINDE, JJ.

DATED : 09/01/2026 P. C. :

1.

Heard.

2.

By this writ petition, the petitioner is seeking a direction to respondent No.2 / Caste Scrutiny Committee to decide expeditiously the tribe claim of the petitioner, which has been pending since 31/07/2025.

3.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner requires the caste validity certificate for pursuing his studies and has expressed urgency in submitting the same before the appropriate authority. Learned counsel further submits that the caste claim of the petitioner's father has already been validated by respondent No.2 / Caste Scrutiny Committee and that no fresh Vigilance Cell enquiry is required. It is further submitted that the

2 940 WP 325-26 petitioner is willing to rely upon and adopt the said Vigilance Cell enquiry report in the present case as well.

4.

Considering the above submissions and particularly the fact that the petitioner is adopting the earlier Vigilance Cell enquiry report, we direct respondent No.2 / Caste Scrutiny Committee to decide the tribe claim of the petitioner as expeditiously as possible and in any case, within a period of four weeks from today, having regard to the urgency involved.

5.

With these directions, the writ petition stands disposed of. ( ABASAHEB D. SHINDE, J. ) ( SANDIPKUMAR C. MORE, J. ) VS Maind/-