Guidelines for issuing Other Backward Class certificates to children of single mothers must be established to prevent hardship.

O R D E R

1. The present writ petition raises an important issue about issuance of Other Backward Class certificate to the children of single mothers, where the mother belongs to the Other Backward Class category. The claim of the petitioner is that the certificate should be issued on the basis of the certificate held by the single mother. The grievance of the petitioner is that the present guidelines provide for considering the Other Backward Class certificate issued to any paternal blood relatives as the basis. According to the petitioner, this causes grave hardship to the single mothers.

2. Mr. S.D. Sanjay, learned Additional Solicitor General draws our attention to the counter affidavit filed by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and to the judgment passed by this Court in the case of “ Rameshbhai Dabhai Naika Vs. State of Gujarat ” reported in (2012) 3 SCC 400, wherein observations were made with regard to the single mothers belonging to the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe categories and submits that similar guidelines will have to be laid down in the present matter also.

3. Considering the importance of the matter, subject to the orders of the Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India, let this matter be placed for final hearing on 22^nd July, 2025.

4. In the meantime, parties are at liberty to file their written submissions.