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Bombay High Court

MUKUNDA BALU PADALEversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THR SECRETARY AND OTHERS

Disposal
DISPOSED OFF

Holding

The Court disposed of the writ petitions without granting the relief sought, noting that the appeals were already being registered.

Summary

Petitioners Aarti Namdeo Gawali, Mukunda Balu Padale and Rahul Shaligram Ingle filed writ petitions seeking a direction to the Divisional Commissioner, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, to register appeals against orders that invalidated their tribe claims. The State, through its AGP, informed the Court that the Commissioner is now registering the appeals. The petitioners relied on Section 6(b), which provides a protection period of 90 days after a claim is invalidated and an additional 30 days after the appeal is decided, and asked that no adverse action be taken against them during this period. The Court noted the submissions, observed that the Commissioner was already processing the appeals, and declined to issue any further direction. Consequently, the writ petitions were disposed of without granting the relief sought.

Issues considered

  • Whether the petitioners are entitled to protection under Section 6(b) after the invalidation of their tribe claims
  • Whether the High Court should direct the Divisional Commissioner to register the appeals and stay any action against the petitioners during the protection period

Subjects

  • tribe claim invalidation
  • Section 6(b) protection
  • appeal registration
  • writ petition
  • scheduled tribe
  • High Court of Bombay

Judgment

2026:BHC-AUG:40401-DB

                                                    1               WP / 11539 / 2026



                        IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                                    BENCH AT AURANGABAD

                                905 WRIT PETITION NO. 11539 OF 2026

                                 AARTI NAMDEO GAWALI
                                        VERSUS
               THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THROUGH SECRETARY AND OTHERS

                                906 WRIT PETITION NO. 11573 OF 2026

                                 MUKUNDA BALU PADALE
                                      VERSUS
               THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THROUGH SECRETARY AND OTHERS

                                908 WRIT PETITION NO. 11607 OF 2026

                                RAHUL SHALIGRAM INGLE
                                       VERSUS
               THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THROUGH SECRETARY AND OTHERS

                                                    ...
                Advocate for petitioners in all WPs :Mr. D.D. Choudhari & Mr. R.B. More
               AGP for the respondent – State : Mr. R.S. Wani, Mr. S.R. Yadav Lonikar and
                                             Mr. N.S. Tekale
                                                    ...

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

                           DATE                 : 2 SEPTEMBER 2026

              PER COURT :

                           The prayer in these petitions is only to direct respondent

              no. 3 i.e. Divisional Commissioner, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to

              register the appeals of the petitioners challenging the orders of the

              invalidation of their tribe claims.


              2.           Learned AGP submits that now the Commissioner is

              registering the appeals.
                                     2                  WP / 11539 / 2026



3.             The only grievance of the petitioners is that by way of

impugned orders, the Committee has directed the authorities to take

appropriate action against the petitioners.


4.             Learned advocate for the petitioners invites attention to

section 6(b), which is insered in statute book giving protection of 90

days to a person whose claim is invalidated and also further 30 days

after the appeal is decided.


5.             In view of above, no action be taken against the petitioners

solely on the ground of invalidation of their tribe claims for a period of

pendency the appeals and for 30 days thereafter. The Committee is

also to take note of the amended provision and shall put the note

accordingly.


6.             It is made clear that the petitioners also will not take any

benefit of persons belonging to scheduled tribe till the proceedings

attain finality.


7.             With this, the writ petitions are disposed of.




       [ JITENDRA JAIN ]                        [ KISHORE C. SANT ]
            JUDGE                                    JUDGE

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