SUJAL MANGALA BIRWADKAR vs THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THR ITS SECRETARY, SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SPECIAL ASSISTANCE DEPT. AND ANR

Judgment text excerpt

901-wp-13016-2024-J.doc IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO.13016 OF 2024 Sujal Mangala Birwadkar Age: 18 years, Occu: Student, R/o: Room No.33, Building No.02, New BPT Colony, Nadkarni Park, Wadala East, Mumbai Post: Antop Hill, Pin-400 037. …..Petitioner Vs. 1. The State of Maharashtra, Through its Secretary, Social Justice and Special Assistance Department, Mantralaya, Mumbai. 2. The District Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee, Raigad, 1402A, Plot No.9, Survey No.76/2B, Behind Saint Merry’s Convent School, Chedhare, Alibag – 402 201, Through its Member Secretary. …..Respondents Mr. Nikhil V. Adkine, for the Petitioner. Mr. B. V. Samant, Additional Government Pleader for the Respondent Nos.1 & 2. CORAM : REVATI MOHITE DERE & DR. NEELA GOKHALE, JJ. RESERVED ON : 10th JUNE 2025. PRONOUNCED ON : 20th JUNE 2025. JUDGMENT :- (Per Dr. Neela Gokhale, J.) 1. Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith. With consent of the parties, matter is heard finally. Shivgan 1/8 901-wp-13016-2024-J.doc 2. By way of the present Petition, the Petitioner seeks quashing of the Judgment and Order dated 15 th April 2024 passed by the Respondent No.2-District Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee, Raigad. He also seeks a declaration that he belongs to ‘Chambhar’ Scheduled Caste community of his mother’s side and issuance of validity certificate of the said caste. 3. The case of the Petitioner in brief is that his parents were married on 22nd April 2004 at Pali, District: Raigad. His father namely, Santosh Mahadeo Mokal belongs to ‘ Hindu Agri’ caste, which is not a Scheduled Caste but his mother namely, Mangala belongs to ‘Chambhar’ community, which is a Scheduled Caste. The Petitioner was born on 14th June 2006. Both his parents were serving in the