IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD R/SPECIAL CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 1685 of 2026 ================================================================

RAJUBHAI MULUBHAI KODIYATAR Versus STATE OF GUJARAT & ANR.

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Appearance:

MR HARDIK D MUCHHALA(5634) for the Petitioner(s) No. 1 MR NIKUNJ KANARA, AGP for the Respondent(s) No. 1,2 ================================================================

CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANIRUDDHA P. MAYEE Date : 10/02/2026

ORAL ORDER

1. Rule, returnable forthwith. The learned AGP Mr. Nikunj Kanara waives service of rule on behalf of the respondents.

2. By the present writ petition, the petitioner is praying for a direction to the respondent No.2-Mamlatdar & Executive Magistrate, Porbandar to issue Schedule Tribe Certificate in the prescribed format as required by the Central Government for getting appointment as Circle Based Officer in State Bank of India.

3. The learned counsel Mr. Hardik D. Muchhala appearing for the petitioner submits that the petitioner belongs to Rabari Caste, which is a Scheduled Tribe Category. He submits that the petitioner has already been issued the caste certificate by the competent authority on 14.06.2011 and on the basis of the said caste certificate, the petitioner has applied in advertisement for appointment as Circle Based Officer in State Bank of India. The learned counsel submits that as per general information of advertisement, a candidate has to bring SC/ST caste certificate issued by the competent authority in the format prescribed as prescribed by the Central Government and the same should be in English language. The learned counsel submits that the petitioner, accordingly, made an application dated 16.12.2025 to the respondent No.2-Mamlatdar & Executive Magistrate, Porbandar for issuing the Schedule Tribe Certificate in the prescribed format as required by the Central Government. The learned counsel submits that the said application is pending consideration before the respondent No.2. He submits that appropriate directions are required to be passed. He submits that if the said certificate is not issued to the petitioner, the petitioner will lose his appointment.

4. The learned AGP Mr.Nikunj Kanara appearing for the respondent authorities submits that the petitioner has already been issued the caste certificate. He submits that if the application of the petitioner is pending consideration for issuance of caste certificate in the prescribed format, then appropriate orders may be passed.

5. Considered the submissions and perused the documents on record. To secure the appointment as Circle Based Officer, the petitioner is required to submit the caste certificate issued by the competent authority in the prescribed format as required by the Central Government and the same should be in English. The petitioner has accordingly made an application to the respondent No.2 on 16.12.2025. In view thereof, the respondent No.2-Mamlatdar, Porbandar is directed to decide the application of the petitioner dated 16.12.2025 and issue the caste certificate to the petitioner in the prescribed format as required by the Central Government for appointment in State Bank of India. It is submitted that the prescribed format has already been annexed with the application made by the petitioner to the respondent No.2. The respondent No.2 is directed to issue the caste certificate in the prescribed format of the Central Government within 2 weeks from the date of receipt of this order.

6. With the aforesaid direction, the present Special Civil Application stands disposed of. Rule is made absolute to the aforesaid extent.

7. It is clarified that the caste certificate issued in the prescribed format will be open for scrutiny by the Caste Scrutiny Committee and the present order is not passed on the merits of the caste certificate held by the petiioner.

Direct service is permitted today.

Sd/-

(ANIRUDDHA P. MAYEE, J.)

ABHISHEK/7