Case Note & Summary
The petitioner, Arjun Baban Jadhav, filed a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India before the Bombay High Court seeking directions to the respondents, particularly Respondent No. 2 (the State of Maharashtra), to treat him as belonging to the Socially and Educationally Backward Class (SEBC) category for the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) conducted on 23.11.2025. The petitioner also sought revision of his result to declare him qualified in Paper-I and Paper-II of the TET under the SEBC category and inclusion of his name in the merit list for promotion to the post of Kendra Pramukh. The facts were narrow: the petitioner had applied for the TET examination but did not possess a valid caste certificate at the time of application or within the prescribed time limit. The respondent refused to consider his application under the SEBC category. The legal issue was whether the petitioner could claim SEBC benefits without a valid caste certificate. The court analyzed that the rules required submission of a caste certificate by a specified date, which the petitioner failed to do. The court held that no mandamus could be issued to compel the respondent to act contrary to the rules. The petition was dismissed.
Headnote
A) Constitutional Law - Writ Jurisdiction - Mandamus - Article 226 of the Constitution of India - The petitioner sought a writ of mandamus to direct the respondent to treat him as belonging to SEBC category for TET examination - The court held that the petitioner failed to produce a valid caste certificate within the prescribed time limit and thus cannot claim the benefit of SEBC category - Held that no mandamus can be issued to compel the respondent to act contrary to the rules (Paras 1-8).
Issue of Consideration
Whether the petitioner is entitled to be considered under the SEBC category for the TET examination despite not having a valid caste certificate at the time of application.
Final Decision
The petition is dismissed.
Law Points
- Caste certificate requirement
- SEBC category
- Teachers Eligibility Test
- time limit for submission
- Article 226
- Mandamus
