Bombay High Court
AVANI RUPESH LANDGEversusThe State of Maharashtra
- Disposal
- DISPOSED OFF
Holding
The Court ordered the Scrutiny Committee to decide the petitioners' caste claims within three weeks and disposed of the contempt petition.
Summary
The High Court noted that the Scrutiny Committee, tasked by an earlier contempt order to determine the petitioners' caste claims, failed to decide within the prescribed time. The State’s Additional Government Pleader informed the Court that the Vigilance Cell report was still pending, requiring at least six weeks to reach a decision. The petitioners, who are students already allotted college seats, urged the Court to expedite the determination. The Court directed the Scrutiny Committee to decide the caste claims within three weeks of the order, emphasizing the urgency for the students. Consequently, the contempt petition was disposed of.
Issues considered
- Does the delay by the Scrutiny Committee in deciding caste claims constitute contempt of court?
- What time-frame should be imposed on the Scrutiny Committee to decide the caste claims?
Subjects
- contempt
- caste verification
- scrutiny committee
- student admissions
- expeditious decision
Judgment
2026:BHC-AUG:34645-DB
933 CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 423 OF 2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
BENCH AT AURANGABAD
933 CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 423 OF 2026
IN WP/14290/2025
Avani D/o. Rupesh Landge And Others
Versus
The State Of Maharashtra And Another
__________________________________________________________
Adv. D. B. Shinde h/f. Adv. S. C. Yeramwar for the
Petitioner
Mr. S. J. Salgare, AGP for State
__________________________________________________________
CORAM : SANDIPKUMAR C. MORE &
VAISHALI PATIL-JADHAV, JJ.
DATE : 06.08.2026
PER COURT :
1] Although the order passed in the Contempt
Petition mandated the Respondent – Scrutiny Committee to
decide the caste claims of the petitioners within the
stipulated period, the same could not be decided within the
prescribed time.
2] Today, the learned AGP has placed on record
a communication dated 06.08.2026, stating that the
Vigilance Cell Report in respect of the petitioners' caste
claims is yet to be received and, therefore, a period of at
least six weeks would be required to decide the said claims.
Komal Kamble Page|1
933 CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 423 OF 2026
The said communication is taken on record and marked "X"
for identification.
3] The learned counsel for the petitioners
submits that the petitioners are students and have already
been allotted colleges. Having regard to the said fact, we
expect the Respondent – Scrutiny Committee to decide the
petitioners' caste claims as expeditiously as possible and,
in any case, within a period of three weeks from the date of
this order.
4] Accordingly, the Contempt Petition stands
disposed of.
(VAISHALI PATIL-JADHAV) (SANDIPKUMAR C. MORE)
JUDGE JUDGE
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