Bombay High Court

SONALI RAM SHRIRAMEversusMAHARASHTRA STATE ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION CO LTD THR ITS SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER AND ANOTHER

Disposal: DISPOSED OFF

Holding

The Court held that the respondent must decide the petitioners' representations on caste validity within four weeks and issue a reasoned speaking order, keeping all contentions open.

Summary

The petitioners Yogesh Bansode and Sonali Ram Shrirame filed writ petitions before the Bombay High Court challenging the refusal of Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Co. Ltd. to accept their caste validity certificates. They had submitted representations on 4 June 2026 and 9 June 2026 after the Caste Scrutiny Committee had sanctioned their validity. The respondents, represented by the Attorney General of Maharashtra and counsel, contended that the matter was administrative and not amenable to judicial intervention. The Court examined whether the petitioners were entitled to a reasoned decision on their representations under principles of natural justice. It held that the respondents must decide the representations within four weeks of receipt of the order and issue a reasoned speaking order, keeping all contentions of the petitioners open. Accordingly, both writ petitions were disposed of with directions to the respondent.

Issues considered

Whether the respondent is required to decide the petitioners' representations on caste validity within a reasonable time
Whether the petitioners are entitled to a reasoned order under natural justice
Whether the writ petitions can be dismissed without such a decision

Subjects

writ petition
caste validity
natural justice
reasoned order
Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Co.
High Court
representation
Caste Scrutiny Committee

Judgment

2026:BHC-AUG:37381-DB


                                               1                          70-72.odt


                        IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                                   BENCH AT AURANGABAD

                            70 WRIT PETITION NO. 9947 OF 2026

                              MR. YOGESH SHIVSHANKAR BANSODE
                                            VERSUS
                   MAHARASHTRA STATE ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION CO. LTD.
                   THROUGH ITS SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER AND ANOTHER
                                               ...
              Mr. S. R. Wakle, AGP for Respondents/State
                                               ...
                            72 WRIT PETITION NO. 9949 OF 2026

                                    MS. SONALI RAM SHRIRAME
                                             VERSUS
                    MAHARASHTRA STATE ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION CO LTD
                    THROUGH ITS SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER AND ANOTHER
                                               ...
              Mr. Nasimuddin Shaikh, Advocate h/f Mr. Ananta Ramteke, Advocate
              for the Petitioner in Both WPs
              Mr. N. S. Tekale, AGP for Respondents/State
              Mr. Sanjay Mundhe, Advocate for Respondent Nos.1 and 2 in Both
                                               ...
                                       CORAM : NITIN B. SURYAWANSHI AND
                                                ABASAHEB D. SHINDE, JJ.
                                      DATE : 17th AUGUST, 2026

              PER COURT :

              .            Both the writ petitions are disposed of by directing

              respondent No.2 to decide the representations of the petitioners

              dated 04/06/2026 and 09/06/2026 respectively, within a period of

              four weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order, by a

              reasoned speaking order, especially in view of the fact that the

              petitioners’ validity has now been sanctioned by the Caste Scrutiny

              Committee. All the contentions of the petitioners are kept open.



                  (ABASAHEB D. SHINDE, J.)         (NITIN B. SURYAWANSHI, J.)


              SVH
      2   70-72.odt




SVH

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