IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO.798 OF 2001 The Honorary Secretary, Gurunanak Vidyak Society and Ors. ..... Petitioners V/s. The Superintendent, Aided School and Ors. ..... Respondents Mr.A.G.Kothari, for the petitioners. Mr.K.N.Gaikwad, for the respondent-Corporation. Ms.Sindha Shreedharan, A.G.P., for the State. CORAM : P.B.MAJMUDAR & R.M.SAVANT, JJ. DATED : 16TH APRIL, 2009. P.C. 1. The petitioner-institutions are claiming to be minority institutions and prayed for appropriate reliefs against the respondent- corporation for directing them to approve the appointment of Inderjit Kaur as Head Mistress of Petitioner No.2 school. According to the petitioners, petitioners being the minority institutions are entitled to appoint its own Head Master/Head Mistress as well as Principal of the School as per their choice. 2. During the course of hearing, the learned A.G.P., for the State pointed out that the issue as to whether the petitioner-institutions are the minority institutions or not, is pending with the State Government. In 2 this behalf, she has relied upon a letter dated 31-07-2000 which is at Page 77 in the compilation, by which the Government informed petitioner No.2 that the issue regarding giving minority status to the private schools under the jurisdiction of M.C.G.B., is pending with the State Government for policy decision. The learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the State Government has already given hearing to the petitioners in this behalf and the decision is awaited. Considering the said aspect, we direct the State Government now to take appropriate decision on the application of the petitioners regarding giving benefit of minority status to the petitioner-institutions. The concerned Department of the State Government who is in-charge of deciding minority status, is directed to take appropriate decision in connection with the application of the petitioner-institutions latest within a period of four weeks from today and such decision may be communicated to the petitioners without further delay. If ultimately, the petitioners have been conferred upon the status of minority, the consequences in that behalf shall follow. In case, the decision of the State Government is against the petitioners, it will be open to them to take appropriate proceedings in accordance with law. Interim relief granted earlier, shall continue to operate till the Government decides the application of the petitioners and two weeks thereafter in case such decision is adverse 3 to the petitioners. Subject to what is stated hereinabove, the petition is disposed of. Rule discharged. ( R.M.SAVANT, J. ) ( P.B.MAJMUDAR, J. )