Case Note & Summary
The petitioner, Aditya Vishvanath Golwad, an 18-year-old student, applied for admission to the MBBS course under the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, claiming to belong to the Thakur tribe. He possessed a caste certificate issued by the competent authority. However, the Scheduled Tribe Certificate Scrutiny Committee, Nashik, invalidated his certificate through an order dated 26 August 2025, based on an affinity test and an alleged lack of documentary evidence. The petitioner challenged this order by filing a writ petition before the Bombay High Court. The court issued notice to the respondents, including the State of Maharashtra, the Scrutiny Committee, the State Common Entrance Test Cell, and the Principal of the Government Medical College & Hospital, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. The petitioner argued that the Scrutiny Committee had not considered the documentary evidence he had submitted, including school records and other documents, and that the affinity test was not conducted in a proper manner. The respondents, represented by the Assistant Government Pleader, defended the order. The High Court, after hearing both sides, found that the Scrutiny Committee had not given due consideration to the petitioner's documentary evidence and that the affinity test was not a conclusive basis for rejecting the claim. The court set aside the impugned order and directed the Scrutiny Committee to reconsider the matter afresh, after giving the petitioner an opportunity to be heard. The court also directed that the petitioner be allowed to continue his MBBS studies pending the fresh decision. The judgment was delivered on 4 November 2025 by a division bench comprising Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge and Justice Ashwini D. Bhobe.
Headnote
A) Caste Scrutiny - Scheduled Tribe Certificate - Validity of Scrutiny Order - The Scrutiny Committee invalidated the petitioner's Thakur tribe certificate based on an affinity test and alleged lack of documentary evidence. The High Court held that the committee failed to consider the petitioner's documentary evidence and the affinity test was not properly conducted. The court set aside the order and directed reconsideration. (Paras 1-10) B) Admission - NEET - MBBS Course - Interim Relief - The petitioner had secured admission to MBBS under the ST category but was at risk of losing it due to the adverse scrutiny order. The court directed the respondents to allow the petitioner to continue his studies pending reconsideration. (Paras 11-15)
Issue of Consideration
Whether the Scheduled Tribe Certificate Scrutiny Committee's order invalidating the petitioner's Thakur tribe claim was sustainable in law, and whether the petitioner is entitled to admission to the MBBS course under the Scheduled Tribe category.
Final Decision
The High Court allowed the writ petition, set aside the impugned order of the Scrutiny Committee, and directed the committee to reconsider the matter afresh after giving the petitioner an opportunity of hearing. The court also directed that the petitioner be permitted to continue his MBBS studies pending the fresh decision.
Law Points
- Caste Scrutiny
- Affinity Test
- Scheduled Tribe Certificate
- Validity of Scrutiny Order
- Natural Justice
- Reconsideration
