Deepakkumar Pyarelal Gupta v. the State of Maharashtra through Principal Secretary and Others
Case brief
What is this about?
Bombay High Court, Aurangabad Bench; Writ Petition No. 3459 of 2026 (with Writ Petition No. 14151 of 2025); decided 09/04/2026; per Abasaheb D. Shinde, J. (Coram: Sandipkumar C. More and Abasaheb D. Shinde, JJ.). Petitioners Shailendra Kashinath Sapkale and another challenged the Scrutiny Committee's order dated 11/09/2025 invalidating their “Tokre Koli” Scheduled Tribe claim. Court held that under Rule 12(8) of the Maharashtra Scheduled Tribes (Regulation of Issuance and Verification of) Certificate Rules, 2003 claimants have the right to file a reply to the vigilance cell enquiry report; the petitioners' e-mailed reply was to Respondent No. 4's complaint, not to the vigilance report. Petition partly allowed: impugned order quashed and set aside; matter remanded to the Scrutiny Committee for fresh decision with opportunity to file the vigilance reply and hearing to all concerned including Respondent No. 4, preferably within four months; petitioners undertook to appear on 17/04/2026. Companion W.P. No. 14151 of 2025 disposed of.