Bombay High Court
HARISH LAXMAN SUDEWADversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THROUGH ITS SECRETARY AND OTHER
- Disposal
- DISPOSED OFF
Holding
The Court may issue a direction to the Scrutiny Committee to decide the tribal claim within a specified time frame.
Summary
Harish Laxman Sudewad filed a writ petition seeking a court direction to the Scrutiny Committee to determine his claim of belonging to the Mannervarlu Scheduled Tribe, a matter that had been pending since 11 July 2025. The petitioner argued that the delay was impeding his plans for higher studies. The Court considered whether it could intervene and order an expedited decision by the Committee. It held that the Court has the jurisdiction to direct administrative bodies to act promptly in matters affecting fundamental rights such as education. Consequently, the Court directed the Scrutiny Committee to decide the tribal claim by the end of June 2026. The writ petition was thereafter disposed.
Issues considered
- Whether the High Court can direct the Scrutiny Committee to decide a pending Scheduled Tribe claim expeditiously.
Subjects
- Scheduled Tribe
- tribal status
- Scrutiny Committee
- writ petition
- expeditious decision
- higher education
Judgment
2026:BHC-AUG:9338-DB
25-wp-2326-2026
-1-
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
BENCH AT AURANGABAD
25 WRIT PETITION NO. 2326 OF 2026
Harish Laxman Sudewad
VERSUS
The State Of Maharashtra Through Its Secretary And Other
...
Mr. O. D. Totawad h/f. Mr. Chandrakant R. Thorat, Advocate for the
Petitioner
Mr. P. S. Patil, AGP for Respondents/State
...
CORAM : SANDIPKUMAR C. MORE AND
ABASAHEB D. SHINDE, JJ.
DATED : 4TH MARCH 2026
PER COURT (Per Abasaheb D. Shinde J.):-
1. Heard.
2. This petition has been filed for seeking direction to Respondent
No.2-Scrutiny Committee to decide the tribe claim of the petitioner of
belonging to ‘Mannervarlu’, Scheduled Tribe which is pending since
11.07.2025.
3. Since the petitioner is desirous of prosecuting the higher
studies, we direct Respondent No.2-Scrutiny Committee to decide the
tribe claim of the petitioner as expeditiously as possible and
preferably by the end of June 2026.
4. With this direction, writ petitions stands disposed of.
[ABASAHEB D. SHINDE, J.] [SANDIPKUMAR C. MORE, J.]
Narwade
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