Ayush Shital Bhopse Being Minor Thr. Natural Guardian Father Shital P. Bhopse v. State of Maharashtra, Thr. Secy. General Administrative Department, Mumbai and Anr.
Case brief
What is this about?
Keywords: Koli Mahadeo; Koli Mahadev; Scheduled Tribe; caste certificate; 'C' Format; Sub-Divisional Officer Tiwasa-Bhatkuli; Amravati; Akola; Section 4; Maharashtra Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, De-Notified Tribes (Vimukta Jatis), Nomadic Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Special Backward Category (Regulation of Issuance and Verification of) Caste Certificate Act, 2000; Maharashtra Scheduled Tribes (Regulation of Issuance and Verification of) Certificate Rules, 2003; pre-constitutional documents; condition de hors statute; without jurisdiction; quashed and set aside; four weeks; rule made absolute; affidavit of apology; no order as to costs. Related precedents followed: Writ Petition No.7787/2025 (Darshana Vinayak Jumale, 09/12/2025); Writ Petition No.7863/2025 (Jay Vilas Ghate, 10/12/2025). Bench: Smt. M.S. Jawalkar and Nandesh S. Deshpande, JJ.
What did the court decide?
(ii) Observation/opinion dated 03/06/2026 issued by Respondent No.2 quashed and set aside; (iii) Respondent No.2 directed to issue a caste certificate of 'Koli Mahadeo' Scheduled Tribe in favour of the petitioner within four weeks from receipt of the order, on the basis of documents required under the Act of 2000 and the Rules of 2003; (iv) Writ Petition disposed of; (v) Rule made absolute; no order as to costs. Affidavit of apology filed by respondent No.2 taken on record and accepted.