Bombay High Court
SANDESH DEVIDAS SURWADversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THR ITS SECRETARY AND OTHERS
- Disposal
- DISPOSED OFF
Holding
The Court directs the Committee to decide the petitioner's tribe claim within two months and disposes the petition.
Summary
Petitioner Sandesh Devidas Surwad filed a writ petition seeking a court order directing the Committee to decide his Scheduled Tribe claim within a stipulated period and to have his category corrected in the State Common Entrance Test list where he was not shown as ST. The petition noted that his claim had been pending since 27‑12‑2024 and that the Vigilance Cell report had not yet been received, with the Committee estimating a four‑month delay. The Court examined the delay and, considering the circumstances, directed the Committee to decide the claim within two months from the date of the order. No substantive examination of the merits of the tribe claim was made. The petition was thereafter disposed.
Issues considered
- Whether the High Court can direct the Committee to decide the petitioner's tribe claim within a stipulated period
- Whether the petitioner is entitled to be listed as a Scheduled Tribe in the State Common Entrance Test list
Subjects
- tribe claim
- Scheduled Tribe
- State Common Entrance Test
- writ petition
- direction to committee
- time limit
Judgment
2026:BHC-AUG:41767-DB
9-WP.11888.2026.doc
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
BENCH AT AURANGABAD
9 WRIT PETITION NO. 11888 OF 2026
Sandesh Devidas Surwad
VERSUS
The State of Maharashtra Thr Its Secretary And Others
...
Mr. Shrikant Kulkarni And Mr. A. P. Piratwad, Advocates for the
Petitioner.
Mr. N. S. Tekale, AGP for Respondent Nos.1 & 2.
Mr. Rohit S. Sarvadnya, Senior Panel Counsel for Respondent Nos.3 &
4.
...
CORAM : KISHORE C. SANT &
JITENDRA JAIN, JJ.
DATE : 8th SEPTEMBER, 2026
PER COURT :
1. Heard Mr. Kulkarni and Mr. Piratwad, learned Advocates for
the petitioner. Mr. Tekale, learned AGP for respondent nos.1 and 2.
Mr. Sarvadnya, learned Advocate for respondent nos.3 and 4.
2. The petitioner has approached this Court with a prayer to
direct respondent no.2-Committee to decide his tribe claim within
stipulated period as also a direction is sought to change the category
of the petitioner as shown in the list published by the State Common
Entrance Test Cell on 26.08.2026, wherein he is not shown as
belonging to the Scheduled Tribe category.
Sayyed 1/2
9-WP.11888.2026.doc
3. It is seen that the petitioner’s tribe claim is pending since
27.12.2024. Learned AGP submits that even the Vigilance Cell Report
is not yet received and it will take atleast four months for the
Committee to decide the petitioner’s tribe claim.
4. Considering the facts of the case, this Court requests the
Committee to decide the petitioner’s tribe claim within a period of
two months from today.
5. With this, petition stands disposed off.
(JITENDRA JAIN, J.) (KISHORE C. SANT, J.)
Sayyed 2/2
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