113wp1253.11.odt 1 . IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR Writ Petition No. 1253 of 2011 (Pandurang B. Gawande and Ors. vs. State and Ors.) Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, appearances, Court's orders or directions and Registrar's orders. Court's or Judge's orders Coram: D. D. Sinha and A. P. Bhangale, JJ. Date : 11/03/2011. Heard Mr.S.R.Narnaware, Adv. for the petitioners and Mr.P.B.Patil, Adv. for respondent no.3. Counsel for the petitioners has submitted that the petitioners have been appointed as Assistant teachers with respondent no.6/School from the Scheduled Tribe category (Halba). It is contended that the petitioners have submitted Caste Validity Certificate along with the documents in support thereof to respondent no.3 in the month of December, 2007. It is further contended that the caste claim of the petitioners have been forwarded for verification to the Caste Scrutiny Committee 113wp1253.11.odt 2 . by respondent no.3 in December, 2007 and since then they are pending for verification and decision before the Committee. It is prayed that direction be given to the Committee to decide the caste claims within a specific period. It is further contended that respondent no.6 has issued communication dt. 28.2.2011 whereby the petitioners are directed to submit the Caste Validity Certificates from the competent Caste Scrutiny Committee within a period of 15 days, failing which action shall be taken against the petitioners. Counsel for the petitioner has submitted that since the caste claims of the petitioners are pending for verification, it is virtually impossible for the petitioners to submit Caste Validity Certificate and therefore, it is prayed that, till the caste claims are decided, direction be given to protect the services of the petitioners. Mr.P.B.Patil, Adv. for the Caste Scrutiny Committee has submitted that since copy of the petition is served on him today itself in the Court, therefore, for want of instructions, he is unable to inform the Court whether the caste claims of the petitioners are pending for verification. Having considered the contentions canvassed by the respective Counsel, it 113wp1253.11.odt 3 . appears that the caste claims of the petitioners are pending before the Caste Scrutiny Committee for verification and for taking decision. In the circumstances, we direct the Caste Scrutiny Committee to decide the caste claims of the petitioners, if not decided earlier, in accordance with the law and procedure applicable in this regard, within a period of four months from the date of communication of this order. In the meantime, the services of the petitioners need not be disturbed. With these observations and directions, the petition is disposed of. JUDGE JUDGE jais