Bombay High Court
NIDHI DHIRAJ KOLIversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THR SECRETARY AND ANOTHER
- Disposal
- DISPOSED OFF
Holding
The Court held that the Scrutiny Committee must decide the petitioners' tribe‑validity claims within four weeks of the judgment.
Summary
Two writ petitions were filed by Swarnandini Tanaji Dabade and Nidhi Dhiraj Koli seeking a direction to the Scrutiny Committee to decide their pending tribe‑validity claims, which had been awaiting decision since May 2024 and September 2023 respectively. The petitions limited their prayer to an order directing the Committee to adjudicate the claims on merit and in accordance with law. The Court noted the delay and, considering the limited nature of the relief sought, directed the Scrutiny Committee to decide the claims within four weeks of the judgment. No substantive discussion on the merits of the claims was made. Both petitions were disposed of on the terms of the direction.
Issues considered
- Whether the Scrutiny Committee should be directed by the Court to decide pending tribe‑validity claims within a specified time frame
Subjects
- writ petition
- tribal validity
- Scrutiny Committee
- administrative delay
- Maharashtra
Judgment
2026:BHC-AUG:46358-DB
Sr. No. 903 & 907
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
BENCH AT AURANGABAD
903 WRIT PETITION NO. 13334 OF 2026
Swarnandini Tanaji Dabade
VERSUS
The State Of Maharashtra Thr Secretary And Another
…
AND
907 WRIT PETITION NO. 13344 OF 2026
Nidhi Dhiraj Koli
VERSUS
The State Of Maharashtra Thr Secretary And Another
…
• Mr. Girish N. Kulkarni (Mardikar), Advocate for the Petitioners.
• Mr. P. S. Patil, Additional Government Pleader for the
Respondent-State in Writ Petition No. 13334 of 2026.
• Mr. S. R. Yadav-Lonikar, AGP for the Respondent-State in Writ
Petition No. 13344 of 2026.r. S. R. Yadav-Lonikar, AGP for
Respondents - State
…
CORAM : KISHORE C. SANT &
JITENDRA JAIN, JJ.
DATE : 30th SEPTEMBER, 2026
PER COURT :
1. Heard learned Advocate for the Petitioners and learned
Additional Government Pleader / AGP for the Respondent-State.
2. The limited prayer in these Petitions is for a direction to
Respondent No. 2 – Scrutiny Committee to decide the tribe validity
claims of the respective Petitioners, which are stated to be pending
since 28th May, 2024 in Writ Petition No. 13334 of 2026 and since
25th September, 2023 in Writ Petition No. 13344 of 2026.
Jhs/ 1/2
Sr. No. 903 & 907
3. Considering the limited nature of the prayer, Respondent
No. 2 – Scrutiny Committee is directed to decide the tribe validity
claims of the respective Petitioners, in accordance with law and on
their own merits, as expeditiously as possible and, in any event,
within a period of four weeks from today.
4. Both the Writ Petitions stand disposed of in the above
terms.
[JITENDRA JAIN, J.] [KISHORE C. SANT, J.]
Jhs/ 2/2
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