PUNJA BHIMA KARMATAversusTHE GENERAL MANAGER(AD.) ,GSRTC.

     C/SCA/3257/2026                                        ORDER DATED: 12/03/2026




     IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

          R/SPECIAL CIVIL APPLICATION NO.3257 of 2026

=========================================
                         PUNJA BHIMA KARMATA
                                 Versus
                 THE GENERAL MANAGER(AD.) ,GSRTC. & ANR.
=========================================
Appearance :
MR. RAVI L. GARCHAR for the Petitioner.
MR DEVANG R BHATT FOR MR HS MUNSHAW for the Respondent No.1.
MS KINJAL VYAS, AGP for the Respondent No.2.
=========================================

 CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE NIRZAR S. DESAI

                              Date : 12/03/2026
                               ORAL ORDER


1.             Heard learned Advocate Mr. Ravi L. Garchar on behalf
of the petitioner and learned Assistant Government Pleader on
behalf of the respondents – State and learned advocate Mr. Devang
R. Bhatt for Mr. H. S. Munshaw for the respondent No.1 - GSRTC.


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
certificate issued in favour of the petitioner, which has led to the
petitioner, who is selected for the post of Driver – Class III, but, not
getting appointment.


4.             Learned advocate for the petitioner would draw the
attention of this Court to an order of learned Co- ordinate Bench


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       C/SCA/3257/2026                          ORDER DATED: 12/03/2026




dated 26.07.2021 which has been confirmed 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 verified the caste certificate 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 clarified that if the caste certificate of the petitioner was
found not to be genuine, the petitioner would not be entitled to
benefit of provisional appointment. It was further clarified that if
the caste certificate 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 benefits.


4.1.             Learned advocate for the petitioner 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, confirming the order of the
Hon’ble Division Bench. Learned Advocate Mr. Hardik D. Muchhala
would 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
passed by the learned Co-ordinate Bench and whereas, the same
being confirmed by the Hon’ble Division Bench, and would submit



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     C/SCA/3257/2026                           ORDER DATED: 12/03/2026




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 confirmed 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 confirmed 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 Driver - Class III, subject to the final 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 clarified that in case the Scrutiny Committee
comes to a conclusion before the period of four months that the
caste certificate 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 clarified
that before finally deciding as to the genuineness of the caste
certificate, all procedure as contemplated under the law shall be
followed by the respondents.



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       C/SCA/3257/2026                                    ORDER DATED: 12/03/2026




8.1              It is   further   clarified       that in case the Scrutiny
Committee does not take any decision as regards the genuineness
of the caste certificate 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 certificate of the
petitioner then;


(A)              in case if the caste certificate 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 certificate is found to be genuine, then, it
will be open for the petitioner to claim seniority and all other
benefits 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.

9.1.1.           Learned advocate for the petitioner 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


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       C/SCA/3257/2026                                                              ORDER DATED: 12/03/2026




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 12/03/2026 17:36:45




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