Sanket S/O Waman Thakare v. Airports Authority Of India, Thr. Regional Manager, Western Region, Mumbai

123-WP-1206-2026.odt 1

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY,

NAGPUR BENCH : NAGPUR.

WRIT PETITION NO. 1206 of 2026 Sanket Waman Thakare vs.

Airport Authority of India through its Regional Manager, Western Region, Mumbai. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Court's or Judge's Order Coram, appearances, Court's Orders or directions and Registrar's order ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ms Aastha Sharma, Advocate for petitioner.

CORAM :- ANIL S. KILOR and RAJ D. WAKODE, JJ. DATE :- 9th FEBRUARY, 2026.

Heard Ms Aastha Sharma, the learned counsel for the petitioner. 2.

Issue notice to the respondents, returnable on 23.03.2026. 3.

The petitioner is permitted to serve the respondent by private mode in addition to the regular mode of service and file an affidavit of service by next date, failing which the petitioner shall pay costs of Rs.500/-(Rs. Five hundred) in the 'Public Welfare Account' bearing No. 129712010001014, IFSC Code No. UBIN0812978 with Union Bank of India, High Court Branch, Civil Lines, Nagpur. 4.

Office objection/s, if any, be removed before the returnable date. 5.

The petitioner has approached this Court seeking challenge to the communication dated 29.01.2006 issued by the respondent-Airports Authority of India thereby declaring that the petitioner is not eligible for recruitment to the post of 'Junior Assistant (Fire Services)'. The reason for such rejection is that the Other Backward Class (OBC) Certificate which was submitted by the petitioner was issued on 27.03.2025 which was falling beyond the cut-off date of 24.03.2025. Ms Aastha Sharma, the learned counsel submits that the petitioner has applied to the Authority for grant of said certificate well within time and the Certificate which issued on 27.03.2025 was for the entire period of the financial year starting from 01.04.2024 to 31.03.2025. Thus, the respondent was not justified in rejecting the aforesaid OBC

123-WP-1206-2026.odt 2 Certificate solely on the ground that it was issued on 27.03.2025. Ms Sharma has also relied upon the judgment of the Delhi High Court in the case of Raghvendra Singh and anr. vs. Union Public Service Commission and anr.

Reported in [2025 NCDHC 11105] to substantiate her arguments.

6.

In that view of the matter, the respondent Authority is directed to keep one post vacant in the OBC category for recruitment to the post of 'Junior Assistant (Fire Services)' till the returnable date. ( RAJ D. WAKODE, J.) (ANIL S. KILOR, J.) Andurkar.

Signed by: Jayant S. Andurkar Designation: PA To Honourable Judge Date: 10/02/2026 10:11:00