Bombay High Court
MINAKSHI SHESHERAO GURDHALKARA AND OTHERSversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS
- Disposal
- DISPOSED OFF
Holding
School authorities may correct caste entries in school records even after the student has left the school under Clause 26.4 of the Maharashtra Secondary School Code.
Summary
The petitioners sought a court order directing the school authorities to correct their caste entry in school records from "Mala Jangam" to "Hindu‑Nhavi". They relied on the Full Bench judgment in Janabai v State of Maharashtra, which held that under Clause 26.4 of the Maharashtra Secondary School Code, schools may amend caste entries even after a student has left the institution. The State opposed the petition, arguing that the clause did not permit such correction. The High Court examined the precedent and concluded that the school authorities indeed have the power to rectify the erroneous entry. Accordingly, the Court directed the respondents to consider the grievance and correct the record within eight weeks, disposing of the petition.
Issues considered
- Whether school authorities can correct a caste entry in a school record after the student has left the school under Clause 26.4 of the Maharashtra Secondary School Code.
- Whether the petitioners are entitled to a judicial direction to have the erroneous caste entry corrected.
Legislation cited
- Maharashtra Secondary School Code — s. Clause 26.4
Subjects
- caste correction
- school records
- Secondary School Code
- administrative law
- right to identity
Judgment
2026:BHC-AUG:4935-DB
-1-
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
BENCH AT AURANGABAD
36 WRIT PETITION NO. 5733 OF 2015
MINAKSHI SHESHERAO GURDHALKAR AND OTHERS
VERSUS
THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS
Mr.K.P.Rodge h/f Mr.P.G.Rodge, Advocate for the petitioners.
Mr.S.P. Joshi, AGP for the respondent/State.
( CORAM : KISHORE C. SANT AND
SUSHIL M. GHODESWAR, JJ. )
DATE : 2 FEBRUARY, 2026
PER COURT :
1. This petition is filed seeking directions to respondent Nos.
3 and 4 to correct the entry in the school record as regards the caste of
the petitioners. The petitioners claim to be belonging to caste ‘Hindu-
Nhavi’. However, the same is wrongly recorded. It is case of the
petitioners that it is wrongly recorded as “Mala Jangam” in the school
record. The learned Advocate for the petitioners relies upon the
judgment in the case of Janabai d/o Himmatrao Thakur Vs. State of
Maharashtra and others [2019(6) Mh.L.J.769] of the Full Bench of this
Court, which has considered the issue of Clause No.26.4 of the
khs/Feb.2026/5733
-2-
Secondary School Code and held that the School Authorities can correct
the entries in the name of caste.
2. The petition is opposed by the learned AGP, by relying upon
clause 26.4. However, the Full Bench has held that the entries can be
considered and corrected by the School Authorities even after the
person/student has left the school.
3. Considering the above, we dispose off the petition with
directions to respondent Nos. 3 and 4 to consider the grievance of the
petitioners in the light of the judgment in the case of Janabai Thakur
(supra).
4. The instant petition stands disposed of accordingly. The
whole exercise be done within a period of 8 weeks from today.
( SUSHIL M. GHODESWAR, J.) ( KISHORE C. SANT, J.)
khs/Feb.2026/5733
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