High Court of Gujarat
VAGHELA ROHITSINH JAYANTIJIversusDISTRICT EDUCATION OFFICER,MEHSANA
- Decided
- Disposal
- 56-DISPOSED AT ADMISSION STAGE
- Bench
- NIRZAR S DESAI
Holding
The Court directed the District Education Officer to decide the petitioner's application within two months and to either amend the School Leaving Certificate if approved or provide a reasoned order if rejected, without examining the merits.
Summary
The petitioner, Vaghela Rohitsinhi Jayantiji, filed a special civil application seeking a direction to the District Education Officer, Mehsana, to decide his earlier application dated 26‑09‑2025 and to change the caste entry in his School Leaving Certificate from Hindu Thakor to Hindu Rajput. The petitioner argued that the authority had not yet ruled on his request. The High Court, after hearing counsel for both sides, ordered the respondent to decide the petitioner's application as soon as possible, preferably within two months of receipt of the order, and to either amend the certificate if the application is approved or issue a reasoned order if it is rejected. The Court expressly stated that it was not examining the merits of the caste change request. Consequently, the petition was disposed of with the directive to the respondent.
Issues considered
- Whether the District Education Officer is obligated to decide the petitioner's application for alteration of caste in the School Leaving Certificate.
- Whether the Court can prescribe a specific time‑frame for the respondent to decide the application and issue a reasoned order if rejected.
Subjects
- caste certificate
- school leaving certificate
- district education officer
- mandamus
- special civil application
- Gujarat High Court
- certificate amendment
Judgment
C/SCA/17622/2025 ORDER DATED: 09/07/2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/SPECIAL CIVIL APPLICATION NO.17622 of 2025
=========================================
VAGHELA ROHITSINH JAYANTIJI
Versus
DISTRICT EDUCATION OFFICER,MEHSANA & ANR.
=========================================
Appearance :
JAYDEEP P PATEL for the Petitioner.
MR. MAULIK M SONI for the Petitioner.
MS ROSHNI PATEL, AGP for the Respondent No.1.
=========================================
CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE NIRZAR S. DESAI
Date : 09/07/2026
ORDER
1. Heard learned advocate Mr. Prem K. Shah for Mr.
Maulik Soni for the petitioner and learned AGP Ms. Roshni Patel
for the respondent No.1.
2. By way of this petition, the petitioner has prayed for a
direction to the respondent authority to decide the application of
the petitioner dated 26.9.2025 and to direct the respondent
authority to change the caste from Hindu Thakor to Hindu Rajput
in the School Leaving Certificate of the petitioner.
3. Considering the fact that the prayer made by learned
advocate Mr. Shah to decide the application dated 26.9.2025 made
by the petitioner, the respondent No.1 is directed to decide the said
application of the petitioner as early as possible, preferably within
a period of two months from the date of receipt of writ and/or
certified copy of this order, whichever is earlier.
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C/SCA/17622/2025 ORDER DATED: 09/07/2026
In case if the respondent No.1 considers the application
of the petitioner positively, in that case, necessary change in the
School Leaving Certificate may be made. In case the respondent
No.1 reject the application of the petitioner, then the respondent
No.1 is directed to pass a reasoned order and communicate the
same to the petitioner by way of Speed Post.
4. With the above direction, the present petition stands
disposed of. It is made clear that this Court has not examined the
merits of the matter.
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 09/07/2026 15:04:58
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