KARAN NAJABHAI CHAVDAversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

     C/SCA/656/2026                                    ORDER DATED: 22/01/2026




           IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

              R/SPECIAL CIVIL APPLICATION NO.656 of 2026

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                        KARAN NAJABHAI CHAVDA
                                 Versus
                        STATE OF GUJARAT & ORS.
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Appearance :
MR HARDIK D MUCHHALA for the Petitioner.
NALANDA ACHARYA, AGP for the Respondents.
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 CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE NIRZAR S. DESAI

                            Date : 22/01/2026
                             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.


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

certi0cate issued in favour of the petitioner, which has led to the

petitioner, who is selected for the post of Lokrakshak Police

Constable, Class - III, but, not getting appointment.


4.            Learned Advocate Mr. Hardik D. Muchhala would draw


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the attention of this Court to an order of learned Co- ordinate

Bench dated 26.07.2021 which has been con0rmed 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 veri0ed the caste certi0cate 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 clari0ed that if the caste certi0cate of the petitioner was

found not to be genuine, the petitioner would not be entitled to

bene0t of provisional appointment. It was further clari0ed that if

the caste certi0cate 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 bene0ts.


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, con0rming 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



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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 Ms. Dhruti

Pandya for the respondents while she could not dispute the fact

about orders being passed by the learned Co-ordinate Bench and

whereas the same being con0rmed by Hon’ble Division Bench,

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 con0rmed 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 con0rmed by Hon’ble

Division Bench.




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7.             Having regard to the same, it is directed that the

respondents shall give provisional appointment to the petitioner, to

the posts of Lokrakshak Police Constable, Class - III, subject to the

0nal 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 clari0ed that in case the Scrutiny Committee

comes to a conclusion before the period of four months that the

caste certi0cate 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 clari0ed

that before 0nally deciding as to the genuineness of the caste

certi0cate all procedure as contemplated under the law shall be

followed by the respondents.


8.1            It is   further   clari0ed        that in case the Scrutiny

Committee does not take any decision as regards the genuineness

of the caste certi0cate then provisional appointments shall be

issued to the petitioner in the posts referred to herein above and

whereas after the Scrutiny Committee comes to a conclusion, as

regards the veracity and genuineness of the caste certi0cate of the

petitioner then (A) in case if the caste certi0cate is not found to be

genuine it would be for the respondents to forthwith terminate the

services of the petitioner or not further extend provisional


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appointment (B) if the caste certi0cate is found to be genuine then

it will be open for the petitioner to claim seniority and all other

bene0ts including but not limited to continuity of service etc as

would be available to him 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, Mr. Muchhala, submitted that the

petitioner will cooperate with the Scrutiny Committee in the

aforesaid exercise, but he 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 22/01/2026 17:20:15




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