1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 5516 OF 2010 Sou. Vaishali Tukaram Chavan & Anr. ..Petitioners versus Shri K. T. Gaikwad & Ors. ..Respondents Mr. V. S. Kapse i/b. Mr. A. J. Kenjale for Petitioners. Mrs. M. P. Thakur – AGP for Respondent Nos. 2 to 4. CORAM : D. D. SINHA AND MRS. MRIDULA BHATKAR, JJ. DATED : JULY 20, 2010. P.C. : 1. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned Assistant Government Pleader for respondent nos. 2 to 4. 2. Petitioners wanted to contest election of Gram Panchayat of Village Kolwadi, Taluka Koregaon, Dist : Satara. The last date of submission of nomination form was 16th July 2010. Nomination forms of the petitioners were not accepted by the Returning Officer and therefore the present writ petition. 2 3. The grievance of the petitioners is that as per one of the terms and conditions of the nomination form, if the caste claim of the candidate is pending before the Caste Scrutiny Committee for verification on the date of submission of nomination form, in such case the candidate is required to submit proof of the said fact before the Returning Officer. 4. It is submitted that in the instant case the caste claim of the petitioners on the date of submission of nomination forms was pending before the Caste Scrutiny Committee for verification and the petitioners also submitted proofs thereof before the Returning Officer, however, the Returning Officer refused to accept the nomination forms of the petitioners for want of Validity Certificates. 5. The learned counsel for the petitioners states that the petitioners be permitted to make a representation in this regard to the Collector by tomorrow and prayed that directions be given to Collector to decide the same at the earliest since the elections are scheduled to take place on 30th July 2010. The learned Assistant Government Pleader states that if the petitioners make such representation to the Collector, it will be decided as per the directions of this Court in accordance with law. 6. In the circumstances, we dispose of the writ petition with liberty to 3 the petitioners to make representation as prayed for. If such representation is made, we direct the Collector Satara to decide the same in accordance with law and procedure applicable in this regard within four days from the date of receipt of such representation. (D. D. SINHA, J.) (MRS. MRIDULA BHATKAR, J.)