Bombay High Court
VIJAYLAXMI BASVANT HARGEWADversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA THROUGH SECRETARY AND ANOTHER
- Disposal
- DISPOSED OFF
Holding
The Court directed the committee to decide the petitioner’s tribe claim within four months, thereby disposing of the petition.
Summary
The petitioner, a student who has passed the 12th standard with good marks, sought a direction from the High Court for the State's tribal validation committee to decide her Scheduled Tribe claim within a stipulated period so she could obtain a tribe validation certificate required for admission to a professional course. The respondent, the State of Maharashtra, argued that the petitioner's claim was filed on 18.03.2026 and that the vigilance cell report was still pending, making it impractical to decide the claim within six months. The Court considered the petitioner's urgent educational needs and the administrative process involved. While acknowledging the committee's need for the vigilance report, the Court directed the committee to decide the tribe claim expeditiously, preferably within four months from the date of the order. Consequently, the petition was disposed of with the said direction.
Issues considered
- Whether the High Court can direct the tribal validation committee to decide a Scheduled Tribe claim within a specific time frame
- Whether the petitioner’s educational urgency justifies an expedited decision despite pending vigilance report
Subjects
- Scheduled Tribe
- tribe validation certificate
- education
- writ petition
- expedited decision
- administrative law
Judgment
2026:BHC-AUG:30645-DB
16-sr9-wp8079.2026.odt
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
BENCH AT AURANGABAD
9 WRIT PETITION NO. 8079 OF 2026
Vijaylaxmi Basvant Hargewad
VERSUS
State Of Maharashtra Through Secretary And Another
...
Advocate for the Petitioner : Mr. Shinde Digambar B
AGP for Respondents: Ms.J.P.Reddy
...
CORAM : KISHORE C. SANT &
AJIT B. KADETHANKAR, JJ.
DATE : JULY 22, 2026
ORDER :-
Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned AGP
for the respondents.
2. The prayer in the petition is for direction to the respondent
– committee to decide the tribe claim of the petitioner within stipulated
period. It is contended that the petitioner has passed 12 th standard
examination with good score and is desirous to take admission to a
professional course for which she requires tribe validation certificate as
she belongs to Scheduled Tribe. Learned counsel, therefore, prays that
the respondent - Committee may be directed to decide the tribe claim
of the petitioner at the earliest so that the petitioner can pursue her
studies.
2 16-sr9-wp8079.2026
3. learned AGP submits that claim of the petitioner is
submitted on 18.03.2026. The vigilance cell report is still not
received. The committee may require some time after receipt of the
vigilance report. She submits that it is not possible for the
committee to decide the claim within six months.
4. However, considering that the petitioner is a student and
has to pursue further studies, we request the committee to decide
the tribe claim of the petitioner expeditiously and preferably within a
period of four months from today. With this direction, the petition
stands disposed of.
[AJIT B. KADETHANKAR, J.] [KISHORE C. SANT, J.]
………..
KBP
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