Ramamurti Education Soc Thr Its Authorised Representative v. The State Of Maharashtra Thr Its Principal Secretary And ORS

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 3373 OF 2026 Ramamurti Education Soc Thr Its Authorised Representative

...Petitioner

Versus

The State Of Maharashtra Thr Its Principal Secretary And Ors

...Respondents

----------------- Mr. Y.S. Bhate, a/w Kuldip T. Pawar, a/w Akanksha G. Bobhate, for Petitioner.

Mr. Kedar B. Dighe, Addl. G.P., a/w Ms. Priyanka B. Chavan, AGP for State. Mr. Aniesh S. Jadhav, a/w Shyam Singh, a/w Rushikesh Kekane, a/w Nikhil Adkine, for Respondent No. 3 - TMC.

Mr. Sheshrao Bade, Education Officer - TMC.

Mr. Ravindra Patil, Coordinator TMC Education. Mr. Sachin Joshi, Assistant Department of Minority Development. ----------------- CORAM : R. I. CHAGLA AND ADVAIT M. SETHNA, JJ.

DATED : 26 MARCH, 2026 P.C.:- 1.

By this writ petition, the Petitioner seeks to quash and set aside the order dated 24 February 2026 issued by Respondent No. 1 - the Department of Minority Development, Government of Maharashtra, suspending the minority status certificates of the Petitioner institution. 2.

Mr. Bhate, learned counsel appearing for the Petitioner, has referred

to the Certificate of Minority Status dated 19 December 2009 (Exhibit "C" to the petition) and submits that the Petitioner - Institution has enjoyed minority status since that year.

3.

Today, the learned AGP appearing for the Respondent-State, on instructions, has stated that the impugned order dated 4 March 2026 merely suspends the minority status certificate issued to the Petitioner - Institution in view of the scrutiny of its minority status being conducted by the Respondent-State. He further submits that the scrutiny will be concluded shortly. The statement is accepted. 4.

In view of the aforesaid statement, and considering that by the impugned order dated 4 March 2026 the Petitioner - Institution, along with other schools, has been made eligible for RTE 25% admissions and has been directed to auto-forward admissions to the RTE 25% portal, it is directed that, until the scrutiny of the minority status of the Petitioner - Institution is concluded, the Respondent-State shall not insist upon the Petitioner - Institution carrying out the process of RTE 25% admissions. 5.

The Respondent-State is further directed to conclude the scrutiny of the minority status of the Petitioner - Institution within a period of three weeks from today.

6.

The Petitioner institution shall cooperate with the Respondent-State authorities in the process of carrying out the scrutiny of its minority status certificate.

7.

It is clarified that this Court has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the matter.

8.

The writ petition is accordingly disposed of in the above terms. [ADVAIT M. SETHNA, J.] [R.I. CHAGLA, J.]