Rahimanbi Ibrahim Inamdar vs District Caste Scrutiny Committee, Kolhapur and Others — Bombay HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Rahimanbi Ibrahim Inamdar vs District Caste Scrutiny Committee, Kolhapur and Others — Bombay HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Writ Petition disposed of with directions: District Caste Scrutiny Committee, Kolhapur to dispose of the petitioner's caste claim on or before 31 August 2026; petitioner permitted to fill up the LLB first year examination form (three year Course) of Shivaji University, Kolhapur through Shahaji Law College; Shahaji Law College to take necessary steps; petitioner not to claim any equity; petitioner to co-operate for time-bound disposal of the caste claim; all contentions on merits expressly kept open; no order as to costs.

Issue for consideration

Whether the District Caste Scrutiny Committee, Kolhapur should be directed to dispose of the petitioner's pending caste claim within a time-bound period, and whether the petitioner should meanwhile be permitted to fill up the LLB first year examination form of Shivaji University, Kolhapur through Shahaji Law College, subject to verification of her caste claim and without claiming equity.

Court's answer

Respondent No.1 - District Caste Scrutiny Committee, Kolhapur is directed to dispose of the caste claim of the petitioner on or before 31 August 2026.

Ratio / Principle

The petitioner is permitted to fill up the examination form for the LLB first year examination (three year Course) of the Shivaji University, Kolhapur through respondent No.2 - Shahaji Law College.

Key takeaways

Respondent No.2 - Shahaji Law College is directed to take the necessary steps.ratio¶¶28
It is clarified that the petitioner will not claim any equity in view of this order passed by the Court.ratio¶¶30
The petitioner is to co-operate for time-bound disposal of her caste claim pending with the District Caste Scrutiny Committee, Kolhapur.ratio

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Bombay High Court (Circuit Bench at Kolhapur), Writ Petition No. 822 of 2026 (Madhav J. Jamdar & Pravin S. Patil, JJ.; decided 2 April 2026): The petitioner, Rahimanbi Ibrahim Inamdar, whose caste verification application was pending before the District Caste Scrutiny Committee, Kolhapur after she complied with the Committee's order dated 29 January 2026 and submitted all documents on 23 February 2026, sought a direction for time-bound disposal of her caste claim and interim permission to fill up the LLB first year examination form of Shivaji University, Kolhapur through Shahaji Law College. Disposing of the petition, the Court directed the Committee to dispose of the caste claim on or before 31 August 2026, permitted the petitioner to fill up the examination form, and directed Shahaji Law College to take necessary steps; it was clarified that the petitioner will not claim any equity, that she is to co-operate in the time-bound disposal of her claim, and that the Court has not considered merits, all contentions on merits being expressly kept open. No order as to costs.

934-WP-822-2026 (C).doc

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

WRIT PETITION NO. 822 OF 2026

Rahimanbi Ibrahim Inamdar ...Petitioner Versus District Caste Scrutiny Committee, Kolhapur And Others ...Respondents

Adv. Tanaji Mhatugade, for Petitioner.

Adv. Kunal Nalawade a/w Adv. Shrikrishna Ganbavale (through V.C.), for the respondent No.2.

Mr. Nagesh Chavan, for Respondent No.3-CET.

Mr. Siddheshwar Kalel,learned AGP for the Respondent-State.

CORAM : MADHAV J. JAMDAR & PRAVIN S. PATIL, JJ.

DATE : 2^nd APRIL, 2026.

P.C. :

Heard Mr. Tanaji Mhatugade, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, learned AGP for the respondent-State, Mr. Ganbavale, learned counsel appearing for the respondent No.2 – Shahaji Law College and Mr. Nagesh Chavan, learned counsel appearing for the respondent No.3 – State Common Entrance Test Cell.

It is the main submission of Mr. Tanaji Mhatugade, learned counsel for the petitioner that the petitioner’s application seeking

1 of 3

ZIP

934-WP-822-2026 (C).doc

verification of the caste is pending with the respondent No.1 - District Caste Scrutiny Committee, Kolhapur, as the petitioner has complied with the requirement as contemplated by order dated 29^th January 2026 of Caste Scrutiny Committee and submitted all the documents on 23^rd February 2026. He submits that the respondent No.1 – District Caste Scrutiny Committee, Kolhapur, be directed to dispose of her caste claim within a period of three months and till that time she be permitted to fill up the examination form with the Shivaji University, Kolhapur through Shahaji Law College, Kolhapur. He submits that no equity will be claimed by the petitioner. He submits that her admission be directed to be subject to the verification of her caste claim by District Caste Scrutiny Committee, Kolhapur.

Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of by passing following

order :

a. Respondent No.1 – District Cast Scrutiny Committee,

Kolhapur is directed to dispose of the caste claim of the petitioner on or before 31^st August 2026.

b. The petitioner is permitted to fill up the examination

form for the LLB first year examination (three year Course) to the Shivaji University, Kolhapur through the respondent No.2 – Shahaji Law College.

2 of 3

ZIP

934-WP-822-2026 (C).doc

c. The respondent No.2 – Shahaji Law College to take

necessary steps.

d. It is clarified that the petitioner will not claim any equity in view of this order passed by this Court.

e. The petitioner to co-operate for disposal of her caste

claim pending with the District Caste Scrutiny Committee, Kolhapur, in time bound manner.

f. It is clarified that this Court has not considered merits and all contentions on merits are expressly kept open.

g . The Writ Petition disposed of in above terms with no

order as to costs.

[ PRAVIN S. PATIL, J.] [MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.]

3 of 3

ZIP