Bombay High Court

AKSHRA TANHAJI MOREversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THR ITS SECRETARY AND OTHERS

Disposal: DISPOSED OFF

Holding

The Court allowed a limited extension for the petitioner to submit the tribe validity certificate by 21 August 2026, subject to verification, and ordered the Committee to pronounce its judgment promptly.

Summary

The petitioner, a student, sought relief after the Committee closed her admission proceedings on 08/07/2026 without a pronouncement, leaving her unable to submit a Scheduled Tribe validity certificate before the original deadline. The CET schedule was later revised, extending the online upload deadline to 21/08/2026 and verification to 23/08/2026, but the petitioner’s category had already been changed to open category. She requested that the Committee decide her claim promptly so she could still qualify under the Scheduled Tribe category. The State argued that no further extension could be granted and that the schedule could not be disturbed. The Court, noting the peculiar facts, directed the CET Cell to accept the tribe validity certificate if filed by 21/08/2026 and ordered the Committee to pronounce its judgment the same day and furnish a physical copy to the petitioner.

Issues considered

Whether the petitioner is entitled to an extension for submitting the Scheduled Tribe validity certificate despite the revised CET schedule.
Whether the Committee must decide the petitioner’s claim immediately to enable her to avail the Scheduled Tribe category.

Subjects

CET
Scheduled Tribe
document verification
extension of time
educational admission
tribal certificate

Judgment

                                   (1)                 501-WP-10716-2026




            IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                       BENCH AT AURANGABAD

                   WRIT PETITION NO. 10716 OF 2026

Akshra D/o. Tanhaji More                    ...Petitioner
       Versus
The State of Maharashtra and Ors.           ...Respondents.
                                   …..
Mr. S. M. Vibhute, Advocate for Petitioner.
Mr. P. S. Patil, AGP for Respondent-State.
Mr. M. D. Warwadkar, Advocate for Respondent No.3.

                                CORAM : KISHORE C. SANT &
                                           JITENDRA JAIN, JJ.

                                DATE     : 20th AUGUST 2026.

PC :-


1.      Not on board. Upon mentioning, taken on production board.


2.      Heard Mr. Vibhute, the learned Advocate for the petitioner,

Mr. Patil, the learned AGP for Respondent/State and Mr. Warwadkar,

learned Advocate for Respondent No.3, for some time.


3.      A difficulty of the petitioner, an unfortunate student, is that

Respondent No.2/Committee closed the proceedings on 08/07/2026.

However, till now, no judgment is pronounced. The petitioner has
                                    (2)                  501-WP-10716-2026




appeared for CET examination, wherein as per earlier schedule, the last

date for uploading of documents was 13/08/2026. The verification of

the documents was to be done from 07/08/2026 till 14/08/2026.

However, now, the schedule is revised, though the date for submission of

documents is not extended, however, the date for uploading the

documents is extended till 21/08/2026 and date of verification is

extended to 23/08/2026. However, in between the petitioner’s category

is converted to open category, and she failed to submit tribe validity

certificate.


4.    It is now submitted before this Court that, only in view of revised

schedule, the petitioner be given an opportunity to upload the

documents till 21/08/2026. For that purpose, however, further direction

is sought to direct Respondent No.2/Committee to decide the claim of

the petitioner at the most by today, so that the petitioner can still try to

get admission from schedule tribe category.



5.    Learned AGP Mr. Patil, however, on instructions, informs that the

Respondent No.2/Committee has already taken up the case of the
                                      (3)                  501-WP-10716-2026




petitioner for pronouncing the judgment today, and by the end of day,

probably judgment would be pronounced.



6.      On this, we made query to Mr. Narwadkar, who appears for

Respondent No.3/CET Cell, as to whether any extension can be given.

However, as of now, law is very settled that no extension be given and

no schedule can be disturbed. Merely because, he submits that though

the schedule is extended, it is not for submitting the online form and the

forms are already submitted. As per earlier schedule, the verification was

to be done prior to 13/08/2026 and in that view, the petitioner is

already converted into open category, and therefore, nothing can be

done.


7.      However, in the peculiar facts of this case, we find that, to save the

future of the petitioner, if the petitioner produces the validity certificate

if by that time she gets to upload the copy by tomorrow. In case her

claims is invalidated, then nothing can be done. However, in case it is

found to be validated, we direct Respondent No.3/CET Cell to accept the

certificate of the petitioner if submitted till 21/08/2026.
                                          (4)                  501-WP-10716-2026




8.           We accept the statement of Mr. Patil that the committee has

already taken up the matter for pronouncement. If the judgment is

pronounced today, a physical copy be given to the petitioner.


9.           It is informed that the parents of the petitioner are before the

Committee. Copy of order be handed over to him.


10.          Parties to act upon an authenticated copy of this order.




     [JITENDRA JAIN, J.]                           [KISHORE C. SANT, J.]
D.A.ETHAPE

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