2026:BHC-AS:6069-DB IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY Digitally signed by CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION URMILA URMILA PRAMOD PRAMOD INGALE INGALE Date:

2026.02.05

19:24:59 WRIT PETITION NO. 15653 OF 2023 +0530 Harshwardhan Devidas Gangurde aged 22 years, Occupation : Student residing at Plot No.3, Gokul Vandan apartment, Behind Akash Petrol Pump Kalanagar, Mhasarul, Dist. Nashik … Petitioner Versus

1. State of Maharashtra through its Secretary, Tribal Development Department, Mantralaya, Mumbai 400 032. 2. Scheduled Tribe Certificate Scrutiny Committee, Nashik – 2 Division through its Member Secretary, having its office at Dist. Nashi.

3. Pune Vidyarthi Griha’s Shriram Sadashiv Dhamankar College of Commerce, Science & Arts, 206, Dindori Road, Near MERI Nashik 422004..… Respondents ****

Mr. R.K. Mendadkar a/w Mrs. Priyanka Shaw, Mr.Jagdish C.

Kawale, Mrs.Prajakta Pashte, for the Petitioner. , for the Respondent.

Mr. Arun Padekar, Law Officer, Nashik, present.

Mr. A.I. Patel, Addl. GP a/w Smt. V.S. Nimbalkar, AGP for Respondent-State.

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CORAM : M.S.KARNIK &

S.M.MODAK, JJ.

DATE : 04^th FEBRUARY 2026 ORAL JUDGMENT (PER M.S.KARNIK, J.) :

1. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learne