Aarti Namdeo Gawali v. the State of Maharashtra and Others
Case brief
What is this about?
Bombay High Court, Aurangabad Bench (neutral citation 2026:BHC-AUG:3311-DB); Writ Petition No. 872 of 2026; decided 22.01.2026 by Sandipkumar C. More and Abasaheb D. Shinde, JJ. (per court); subject: expedited verification of 'Koli Malhar' Scheduled Tribe claim before the Scrutiny Committee; directions: decision preferably within six months, no coercive action by respondent No.3 (MSETCL) during that period despite pending show-cause notice of 14.01.2026, protection limited to six months with no equities; writ petition disposed of. No statutes or precedents cited; no monetary quantum involved.
What did the court decide?
Direction to the respondent/Scrutiny Committee to decide the petitioner's 'Koli Malhar' Scheduled Tribe claim expeditiously, preferably within six months; interim protection restraining respondent No.3 from any coercive action during that period for non-submission of the tribe validity certificate; protection expressly limited to six months, with the petitioner not entitled to claim any equities.