AKSHAY UTTAM GAIKWAD vs STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THR ITS SECRETARY AND ANR

Judgment text excerpt

LSP 1 49 wp 12835.23.doc IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION Writ Petition No. 12835 of 2023 Akshay Uttam Gaikwad … Petitioner V/s. 1. State of Maharashtra 2. Scheduled Tribe Certificate Scrutiny Committee, Nashik-2 … Respondents. Mr. Siddheshwar Biradar and Anuj Gaikar i/b.Dinesh Shinde, Advocate for the Petitioner. Mr. K.S.Thorat ‘B’ Panel, Advocate for the Respondents-State. CORAM : M.S. KARNIK & S.M. MODAK, JJ. DATE : 19th January 2026. ORAL JUDGMENT : (Per M.S. Karnik, J) . Heard learned counsel for the Petitioner. Digitally signed by LATA SUNIL LATA SUNIL PANJWANI PANJWANI Date: 2. The caste claim of the Petitioner as belonging to the ‘Koli 2026.01.21 12:13:48 +0530 Mahadeo’ Scheduled tribe is invalidated by the Scrutiny Committee by the impugned order. 3. The learned AGP invited our attention to the impugned order. LSP 2 49 wp 12835.23.doc It is submitted that though the Petitioner’s father has been issued with the certificate of validity as far back as on 18 July 2005, the same was without holding enquiry. It is further submitted by the learned AGP that there were several overwritings and interpolation on the documents which have been relied upon by the Petitioner’s father and other close blood relatives who have been issued the certificate of validity. The learned AGP, therefore, submitted that the Petitioner’s claim has been rightly invalidated by Scrutiny Committee. 4. We find as many as 20 close blood relatives of the Petitioner have been issued with certificate of validity. On record is the genealogy on Page-134 of the paper-book which was before the Scrutiny Committee and was duly verified. There does not appear to be any serious dispute about the relationship of the Petitioner with the close relative who have been issued