High Court of Gujarat
JETHA DAYABHAI CHAVDAversusTHE GENERAL MANAGER (AD.),GSRTC
- Decided
- Disposal
- 58-RULE ISSUED & RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @FH
- Bench
- NIRZAR S DESAI
Holding
The court ordered that the petitioner be given a provisional appointment subject to the final decision of the Scrutiny Committee on the genuineness of the caste certificate.
Summary
Petitioner Jetha Dayabhai Chavda filed a special civil application challenging the failure of the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation's Scrutiny Committee to verify his caste certificate, which prevented his appointment as Helper, Class 3. The petitioner relied on a prior coordinate bench order dated 26 July 2021, affirmed by a division bench on 25 November 2021, which directed provisional appointment in similar circumstances. The State argued that a comprehensive exercise was pending before the division bench and sought more time. The High Court held that the earlier coordinate bench decision was binding and ordered the respondents to grant the petitioner provisional appointment within four months, subject to the final determination of the certificate's genuineness. The court clarified that if the certificate is later found not genuine, the appointment may be terminated, whereas a genuine certificate would entitle the petitioner to seniority and other benefits.
Issues considered
- Whether the delay by the Scrutiny Committee in verifying the caste certificate warrants a provisional appointment to the petitioner.
- Whether the High Court must follow the earlier coordinate bench order dated 26 July 2021, as affirmed by the division bench.
- What are the consequences for the petitioner if the caste certificate is later determined to be not genuine?
Subjects
- caste certificate
- provisional appointment
- Scrutiny Committee
- reservation
- service appointment
- Gujarat High Court
- administrative law
Judgment
C/SCA/1740/2026 ORDER DATED: 12/02/2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/SPECIAL CIVIL APPLICATION NO.1740 of 2026
==========================================================
JETHA DAYABHAI CHAVDA
Versus
THE GENERAL MANAGER (AD.),GSRTC & ANR.
==========================================================
Appearance :
MR HARDIK D MUCHHALA for the Petitioner.
MR AAKASH GUPTA, AGP for the Respondent No.2.
MR HS MUNSHAW for the Respondent No.1.
=========================================
CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE NIRZAR S. DESAI
Date : 12/02/2026
ORAL ORDER
1. Heard learned Advocate Mr. Hardik D. Muchhala on
behalf of the petitioner and learned Assistant Government Pleader
on behalf of the respondents – State and learned advocate Mr. H. S.
Munshaw for the respondent No.1.
2. Rule, returnable forthwith. Learned Assistant
Government Pleader waives service of rule on behalf of the
respondent – State.
3. By way of this petition, the petitioner inter alia
challenges the inaction on part of the respondents, more
particularly, the Scrutiny Committee of not verifying the caste
certi1cate issued in favour of the petitioner, which has led to the
petitioner, who is selected for the post of Helper, Class 3, but, not
getting appointment.
4. Learned Advocate Mr. Hardik D. Muchhala would draw the
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C/SCA/1740/2026 ORDER DATED: 12/02/2026
attention of this Court to an order of learned Co- ordinate Bench
dated 26.07.2021 which has been con1rmed by Hon’ble Division
Bench vide an order dated 25.11.2021 and whereas learned
Advocate would submit that in a similar scenario, since the
Scrutiny Committee had not veri1ed the caste certi1cate within
reasonable time, the learned Co-ordinate Bench was pleased to
direct the respondent authorities to give provisional appointment to
the petitioner therein more particularly within a period of two
months from the date of receipt of writ of the Court and whereas it
was also clari1ed that if the caste certi1cate of the petitioner was
found not to be genuine, the petitioner would not be entitled to
bene1t of provisional appointment. It was further clari1ed that if
the caste certi1cate was found genuine it will be open for the
petitioner to claim actual appointment from the date his juniors
were appointed and also continuity of service and other bene1ts.
4.1. Learned Advocate Mr. Hardik D. Muchhala would also
draw the attention of this Court to order dated 25.11.2021 passed
by Hon’ble Division Bench in Letters Patent Appeal No.984 of 2021
whereby the above-referred order of learned Co-ordinate Bench
had been challenged and whereas vide said order, the Hon’ble
Court had also rejected the challenge, con1rming the order of the
Hon’ble Division Bench. Learned Advocate Mr. Hardik D. Muchhala
submit that since the issue in question in the petition before the
Hon’ble Co-ordinate Bench and the subject in issue in the present
petition being the same, this Court may pass similar order in this
petition also.
5. Learned Assistant Government Pleader for the
respondents, while could not dispute the fact about orders being
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C/SCA/1740/2026 ORDER DATED: 12/02/2026
passed by the learned Co-ordinate Bench and whereas, the same
being con1rmed by the Hon’ble Division Bench, and would submit
that the State is contemplating to have a comprehensive exercise
more particularly considering the fact that certain aspects of the
issue in dispute are pending before the Hon’ble Division Bench.
She would further submit that in any case, if, similar orders were to
be passed then some more time may be granted to the Government.
6. Having regard to the submissions made by learned
Advocates for the parties, in the considered opinion of this Court,
order dated 26.07.2021 passed by learned Co- ordinate Bench in
Special Civil Application No. 1858 of 2021 con1rmed by Hon’ble
Division Bench was passed in similar set of facts and therefore the
decision would be binding on this Court and whereas judicial
propriety demands that this Court should also follow the same view
as laid down by learned Co-ordinate Bench con1rmed by Hon’ble
Division Bench.
7. Having regard to the same, it is directed that the
respondents shall give provisional appointment to the petitioner, to
the post of Helper, Class 3, subject to the 1nal decision taken by
the Scrutiny Committee. Such order shall be issued by the
respondents within a period of four months from the date of receipt
of writ of this order.
8. It is clari1ed that in case the Scrutiny Committee
comes to a conclusion before the period of four months that the
caste certi1cate produced by the petitioner was not genuine then
the respondents are not required to give provisional appointment
to the present petitioner. In this regard that it is further clari1ed
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C/SCA/1740/2026 ORDER DATED: 12/02/2026
that before 1nally deciding as to the genuineness of the caste
certi1cate, all procedure as contemplated under the law shall be
followed by the respondents.
8.1 It is further clari1ed that in case the Scrutiny
Committee does not take any decision as regards the genuineness
of the caste certi1cate then provisional appointments shall be
issued to the petitioner on the post referred to herein above and
whereas, after the Scrutiny Committee comes to a conclusion, as
regards the veracity and genuineness of the caste certi1cate of the
petitioner then;
(A) in case if the caste certi1cate is not found to be
genuine, it would be for the respondents to forthwith terminate the
services of the petitioner or not to further extend provisional
appointment,
(B) if the caste certi1cate is found to be genuine, then, it
will be open for the petitioner to claim seniority and all other
bene1ts including, but not limited to, continuity of service etc., as
would be available to the petitioner from the date, when juniors to
the present petitioner had been appointed to the post in question.
9. With the aforesaid directions, present petition stands
disposed of.
9.1 The petitioner is directed to cooperate with the process
of scrutiny of the documents by producing original documents, as
and when called by the Scrutiny Committee.
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C/SCA/1740/2026 ORDER DATED: 12/02/2026
9.1.1 Learned Advocate, Mr. Muchhala, submitted that the
petitioner will cooperate with the Scrutiny Committee in the
aforesaid exercise, but, the petitioner may be informed about the
date and time, on which to appear before the Scrutiny Committee
in advance, by way of speed post, which shall be done by the
Committee. Rule is made absolute to the above extent.
Direct service is permitted.
(NIRZAR S. DESAI,J)
SAVARIYA
Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: RAJNISH NARENDRA SAVARIYA(HC00179), PRINCIPAL PRIVATE SECRETARY, at High Court of Gujarat on 12/02/2026 17:31:13
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