2026:BHC-NAG:11506-DB 902 WP-6764-2026 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR. WRIT PETITION NO.6764 OF 2026 [Chetan S/o Dipak Thakur ..vs.. The Scheduled Tribes Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee, Amravati and others] ______________________________________________________________________________ OfficeNotes,OfficeMemorandaofCoram, appearances,Court'sordersofdirections Court'sorJudge'sorder andRegistrar'sorders. Shri. R. S. Suryawanshi, Advocate for Petitioner. Ms. S. S. Jachak, Addl. G. P. for Respondent No.1. CORAM : URMILA JOSHI-PHALKE AND RAJ D. WAKODE, JJ. DATE : 1 st SEPTEMBER, 2026 . 1. Shri. Nikhil Gaikwad, learned counsel, appeared and waived service of notice on behalf of respondent No.3 - State Common Entrance Test Cell, Mumbai. 2. By this petition, the petitioner is seeking a direction to respondent No.1 - Scheduled Tribes Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee, Amravati, to decide his caste claim expeditiously, as well as a direction to respondent Nos.2 and 3 not to cancel the admission of the petitioner from the Scheduled Tribe Category till the final decision of respondent No.1 - Scheduled Tribes Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee, Amravati.

3. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner, who submitted that the petitioner herein belongs to the “Thakur” Scheduled Tribe, which is recognized at serial No.44 in the list of the Scheduled Tribe Notification. The petitioner’s school has submitted the proposal for verification of his caste/tribe claim towards the “Thakur” Scheduled Tribe Category; however, it is still pending before respondent No.1 - Committee for verification. The petitioner has already submitted the relevant documents for the purpose of verification, but it was not decided. Now, the petitioner has been admitted to respondent No.2 -Engineering College; however, he is under an obligation to produce the validity certificate before 7th September, 2026. Due to the pendency of his caste claim, he is unable to produce the same and, on account thereof, there is an apprehension of losing his seat. Therefore, he is seeking directions. 902 WP-6764-2026 2 4. On instructions, learned Additional Government Pleader stated that the tribe claim can be decided within three months, subject to the vigilance report. 5. Learned counsel for respondent No.3 submitted that, as the production of the validity certificate is a pre-condition, the petitioner is under an obligation to produce the same and therefore, the petition deserves to be dismissed.

6. On hearing both the sides and considering that the Government has already considered this aspect by issuing a Government Resolution extending the period of six months for SBC and OBC, therefore, we are of the considered opinion that the same criteria can be applied to the other categories, i.e. Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes etc. In view of that, we are of the considered opinion that respondent No.3 - State Common Entrance Test Cell, Mumbai, shall consider the petitioner’s candidature from the Scheduled Tribe Category. 7. Respondent No.1 - Committee shall decide the caste claim of the petitioner within three months from the date of receipt of this order. Till then, respondent Nos.2 and 3 shall not cancel the admission of the present petitioner from the Scheduled Tribe Category. 8. Needless to say that the admission of the petitioner shall be subject to the decision of respondent No.1 - Committee regarding his caste claim. The petitioner cannot seek any equity on that ground. 9. The present writ petition is, accordingly, disposed of. (RAJ D. WAKODE, J.) (URMILA JOSHI-PHALKE, J.) TAMBE Signed by: Mr. Ashish Tambe Designation: PA To Honourable Judge Date: 01/09/2026 19:28:15

2026:BHC-NAG:11506-DB 902 WP-6764-2026 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR. WRIT PETITION NO.6764 OF 2026 [Chetan S/o Dipak Thakur ..vs.. The Scheduled Tribes Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee, Amravati and others] ______________________________________________________________________________ OfficeNotes,OfficeMemorandaofCoram, appearances,Court'sordersofdirections Court'sorJudge'sorder andRegistrar'sorders. Shri. R. S. Suryawanshi, Advocate for Petitioner. Ms. S. S. Jachak, Addl. G. P. for Respondent No.1. CORAM : URMILA JOSHI-PHALKE AND RAJ D. WAKODE, JJ. DATE : 1 st SEPTEMBER, 2026 . 1. Shri. Nikhil Gaikwad, learned counsel, appeared and waived service of notice on behalf of respondent No.3 - State Common Entrance Test Cell, Mumbai. 2. By this petition, the petitioner is seeking a direction to respondent No.1 - Scheduled Tribes Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee, Amravati, to decide his caste claim expeditiously, as well as a direction to respondent Nos.2 and 3 not to cancel the admission of the petitioner from the Scheduled Tribe Category till the final decision of respondent No.1 - Scheduled Tribes Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee, Amravati.

3. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner, who submitted that the petitioner herein belongs to the “Thakur” Scheduled Tribe, which is recognized at serial No.44 in the list of the Scheduled Tribe Notification. The petitioner’s school has submitted the proposal for verification of his caste/tribe claim towards the “Thakur” Scheduled Tribe Category; however, it is still pending before respondent No.1 - Committee for verification. The petitioner has already submitted the relevant documents for the purpose of verification, but it was not decided. Now, the petitioner has been admitted to respondent No.2 -Engineering College; however, he is under an obligation to produce the validity certificate before 7th September, 2026. Due to the pendency of his caste claim, he is unable to produce the same and, on account thereof, there is an apprehension of losing his seat. Therefore, he is seeking directions. 902 WP-6764-2026 2 4. On instructions, learned Additional Government Pleader stated that the tribe claim can be decided within three months, subject to the vigilance report. 5. Learned counsel for respondent No.3 submitted that, as the production of the validity certificate is a pre-condition, the petitioner is under an obligation to produce the same and therefore, the petition deserves to be dismissed.

6. On hearing both the sides and considering that the Government has already considered this aspect by issuing a Government Resolution extending the period of six months for SBC and OBC, therefore, we are of the considered opinion that the same criteria can be applied to the other categories, i.e. Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes etc. In view of that, we are of the considered opinion that respondent No.3 - State Common Entrance Test Cell, Mumbai, shall consider the petitioner’s candidature from the Scheduled Tribe Category. 7. Respondent No.1 - Committee shall decide the caste claim of the petitioner within three months from the date of receipt of this order. Till then, respondent Nos.2 and 3 shall not cancel the admission of the present petitioner from the Scheduled Tribe Category. 8. Needless to say that the admission of the petitioner shall be subject to the decision of respondent No.1 - Committee regarding his caste claim. The petitioner cannot seek any equity on that ground. 9. The present writ petition is, accordingly, disposed of. (RAJ D. WAKODE, J.) (URMILA JOSHI-PHALKE, J.) TAMBE Signed by: Mr. Ashish Tambe Designation: PA To Honourable Judge Date: 01/09/2026 19:28:15