Bombay High Court
SHRAVANI SANDEEP GAIKWADversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA THR SECRETARY GENERAL ADMINISTRATION DEPT AND ORS
- Decided
- Disposal
- Disposed Off
Holding
The Court held that the petitioner is entitled to be considered under the Scheduled Tribe category and directed the CET Cell to correct the record and allow her participation in the CAP rounds.
Summary
Shravani Sandeep Gaikwad filed a writ petition seeking recognition of her Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for admission to the First Year MBBS/BDS courses under NEET-UG 2026. She had obtained a valid tribe validity certificate dated 24 August 2026, but the CET Cell had recorded her candidature as "OPEN (Converted)". The issue before the Court was whether the CET Cell must honor the certificate and admit her under the ST category for the subsequent CAP rounds. The Court observed that the petitioner possessed a valid certificate and therefore was entitled to the benefits of the ST reservation. Consequently, the Court directed the CET Cell to permit her participation in the CAP rounds as an ST candidate and to correct the entry in its records. The petition was disposed without any order as to costs.
Issues considered
- Whether the CET Cell is obligated to recognize the petitioner’s tribe validity certificate and admit her under the Scheduled Tribe category for NEET-UG 2026 admissions?
Subjects
- NEET-UG
- Scheduled Tribe
- Admission
- CET Cell
- Writ Petition
- Tribe Validity Certificate
Judgment
1 911-wp-13330-
2026.doc
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
WRIT PETITION NO. 13330 OF 2026
Shravani Sandeep Gaikwad ...Petitioner
Vs.
The State of Maharashtra through
Secretary General Administration
Department and Another ...Respondents
-----------------
Mr. Sahil Choudhary, for the Petitioner.
Ms. Priyanka Chavan, AGP, for the Respondent / State.
Mr. Rui A. Rodrigues, for Respondent No.2 / CET Cell.
-----------------
CORAM : R. I. CHAGLA AND
Digitally
signed by
MAMTA
MAMTA AMAR
FIRDOSH P. POONIWALLA, JJ.
AMAR KALE
KALE Date:
2026.10.07
17:58:18
+0530
DATED : 7th OCTOBER, 2026
P.C.:-
1. For the reasons separately recorded, the following order is
passed:
(a) Considering that the Petitioner has been able to obtain
the tribe validity certificate, we consider it appropriate to
direct Respondent No.2 CET Cell to permit the Petitioner to
participate in the subsequent CAP Rounds of NEET-UG 2026
for admission to the First Year MBBS/BDS Course by
Mamta Kale 1/2
2 911-wp-13330-
2026.doc
considering her candidature from the Scheduled Tribe
Category.
(b) Respondent No.2 CET Cell shall accordingly correct
the Petitioner’s candidature reflected as “OPEN (Converted)”
by giving effect to the Petitioner’s Tribe Validity Certificate
dated 24th August 2026 for the ongoing admission process.
(c) The Writ Petition is accordingly disposed of in the
aforesaid terms. There will be no order as to costs.
[FIRDOSH P. POONIWALLA, J.] [R.I. CHAGLA, J.]
Mamta Kale 2/2
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