1 W.P.No.3983/10 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY BENCH AT AURANGABAD. WRIT PETITION NO.2106 OF 2007. 1. Laxminarayan Chhotelal Rathod, Age 51 years, Occ.Social work, R/o B9, Thakur Niwas, Giriraj Cooperative Housing Society Kamgar Chowk, Pandharpur Waladgaon, Tq. and District Aurangabad. 2. Sow. Rukhmini W/o Laxminarayan Rathod, Age 42 years, Occ. Household, R/o as above. 3. Ashutosh Omprakash Rathod, Age 25 years, Occ.Education, R/o C/o Thakur Niwas, Gandhinagar, Ranjangaon, Tq. Gangapur, District Aurangabad. 4. Arvind Gyanprakash Rathod, Aged 24 years, Occ.Service, R/o as above. ... Petitioners. Versus 1. The State of Maharashtra, through its Secretary, Tribal Development Department, Mantralaya, Mumbai. 2. The Scheduled Tribe Certificates Scrutiny 2 W.P.No.3983/10 Committee, through its Member Secretary,Aurangabad. 3. The Secretary, Department of Water Conservation Mantralaya, Mumbai. ... Respondents. ... Mr.A.S.Bayas, advocate for the petitioner. Mr.N.R.Shaikh, Asstt. Govt. Pleader for the State. Mr.R.P.Phatake, Standing counsel for the Respondent No.2. ... CORAM : NARESH H.PATIL & : S.V.GANGAPURWALA,JJ. Date : 14.01.2011. ORAL JUDGMENT (Per Naresh H.Patil,J.) 1. Heard. 2. Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith and heard finally by consent of the parties. 3. By order dated 21.6.2007, the Division Bench (Coram : S.J.Vazifdar and P.R.Borkar,JJ.) directed the Respondent No.2 - Scrutiny Committee to decide the caste claim of the petitioner expeditiously which was pending decision of the 3 W.P.No.3983/10 Committee at the relevant time. The learned counsel submits that unfortunately the Scrutiny Committee has still not finally decided the caste claim of the petitioner. 4. Learned counsel Mr.Phatake, submits that within six (6) months, the caste claim of the petitioner would be decided. In normal circumstances, the Scrutiny Committee ought to have disposed of the caste claim matter of the petitioner within a reasonable time. The petitioner states that he is already selected by M.P.S.C. and for want of decision on his caste claim, the petitioner is unable to seek service. 5. In the facts of the case, we direct the Committee to decide the caste claim of the petitioner within four (4) months from the date of receipt of order of this Court. The petitioner shall appear before the Committee on 24.1.2011 at 11-00 a.m. The petitioner shall cooperate with the Committee. The Committee shall pass orders strictly in accordance with law and the evidence place before the Committee. We 4 W.P.No.3983/10 do not express any opinion on the merit of the petition. 6. Rule made absolute accordingly. 7. For a period of four (4) months, in case the name of the petitioner is appearing in the Select list, it shall not be removed. (S.V.GANGAPURWALA,J.) (NARESH H.PATIL,J.) asp/office/wp2106.07