Bombay High Court

RAKSHITA MRUGENDRA HIREMATHversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THR ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY AND OTHERS

Disposal: DISPOSED OFF

Holding

A student whose caste validity certificate is pending may be permitted to appear for the examination, but the committee must decide the caste claim within six months, subject to an undertaking by the student.

Summary

The petitioner, a Scheduled Caste student admitted to a B.D.S. program, had not yet produced a caste validity certificate, with her claim pending before a scrutiny committee. She sought permission to appear for the first‑year examination scheduled for 19‑09‑2026 and requested the committee decide her claim within six months. The respondents argued that without the certificate her eligibility remained uncertain and the committee would need at least six months. The Court directed the university to allow the petitioner to sit for the exam, subject to her filing an undertaking not to claim any equity based on the order, and ordered the committee to decide the caste claim within six months. The petition was thereafter disposed.

Issues considered

Whether a student whose caste validity certificate is pending may be allowed to appear for an examination.
Whether the court can direct the scrutiny committee to decide the caste claim within a specified period.
Whether an undertaking can be imposed on the petitioner to prevent claims of equity based on the court's order.

Subjects

caste certificate
reservation
educational admission
examination eligibility
government resolution
court direction
writ petition

Judgment

2026:BHC-AUG:42103-DB


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                         IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                                    BENCH AT AURANGABAD

                                 WRIT PETITION NO. 11007 OF 2026

                 Rakshita Mrugendra Hiremath                              .. Petitioner

                        Versus

                 The State Of Maharashtra
                 Through Its Principal Secretary And Others               .. Respondents

                 Mr. S. V. Jadhav, Advocate for Petitioner.
                 Mr. P. K. Lakhotiya, AGP for Respondent Nos. 1 & 2.
                 Smt. Vanita H. Sangole, Advocate for Respondent No. 3.
                 Mr. Akshay R. Joshi, Advocate h/f Mr. Sujeet D. Joshi, Advocate
                 for Respondent No. 4.

                                        CORAM : KISHORE C. SANT AND
                                                JITENDRA JAIN, JJ.
                                         DATE       :   11th SEPTEMBER, 2026.

                 PER COURT :-

                 1.     The learned advocate Smt. Sangole informs that, she has

                 received instructions to appear for respondent No. 3.


                 2.     Heard learned advocate Mr. Jadhav for the petitioner,

                 learned A.G.P. Mr. Lakhotiya for respondent Nos. 1 and 2, learned

                 advocate Smt. Sangole for respondent No. 3 and learned advocate

                 Mr. Joshi for respondent No. 4.


                 3.     The petitioner is admitted to B.D.S. course in the academic
                                2            17-wp 11007-2026.odt


year 2025-2026. The petitioner belongs to Scheduled Caste

namely Bedajangam. At the time of admission, she was not

holding validity, however, her proposal is pending with the

scrutiny committee. In view of the Government Resolution dated

02.07.2026 she was given six months time to produce the caste

validity certificate. However, till now the claim is not decided.

Now the first year examination is scheduled to start from

19.09.2026. Therefore, the learned advocate prays that the

petitioner be allowed to appear for the said examination. He

further seeks direction to the committee to decide the caste claim

within stipulated period.


4.    The learned A.G.P. submits that, the petitioner’s claim is

pending. The committee would take at least six months time to

decide the claim.


5.    The learned advocate for respondent No. 4 submits that

since the validity certificate is not produced by the petitioner, her

eligibility is still pending.


6.    The learned advocate for respondent No. 3 prays for passing

appropriate order.
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7.       Since the caste claim proceeding is pending before the

committee, we direct the respondent No. 2 to decide the claim of

the petitioner within six months from today in any case subject to

filing of undertaking by the petitioner with this Court as well as

with respondent No. 4 – University within two weeks from today

that she shall not claim any equity on the basis of this order.


8.       The petitioner is allowed to appear for the examination. The

petitioner to co-operate in the proceedings before the committee

without taking any adjournment.


9.       With this, the writ petition stands disposed of.


10.      Parties to act upon authenticate copy of this order.



( JITENDRA JAIN, J.)                          ( KISHORE C. SANT, J. )


P.S.B.

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