{1} IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE OF BOMBAY BENCH AT AURANGABAD WRIT PETITION NO.5313 OF 2010 Pranjali d/o Bhaskarrao Deshmukh, age: 21 years, Occ: Education, R/o Bhakti Nagar, Pisadevi Road, Aurangabad. Petitioner Versus 1 The State of Maharashtra, through Secretary, School and Education Department, Mantralaya, Mumbai. 2 The Divisional Deputy Director of Education, Aurangabad. 3 The Collector, Aurangabad. 4 The District Education Officer (Primary), Zilla Parishad, Aurangabad. 5 The Head Master, Sonamata Madhyamic School, Cidco, N-9, Aurangabad. Respondents Mr.M.R.Sonawane, advocate for petitioner Mr.N.B.Patil, A.G.P. for respondents no.1 to 3. Mr.S.K.Jadhavar, advocate for Respondent No.4. Respondent No.5 served. CORAM : B.R.GAVAI AND R.M.BORDE, JJ. DATE : 22 nd November, 2010 {2} ORAL JUDGMENT (Per B.R.Gavai, J.): 1 Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith and heard finally by consent of learned Counsel for respective parties. 2 By way of present petition, the petitioner challenges the order dated 26th April, 2010, passed by the Respondent No.4- Education Officer, thereby rejecting the application filed by the petitioner to accord sanction for correcting the entry pertaining to the caste of the petitioner. 3 The application of the petitioner is rejected on the ground that the Education Officer has no jurisdiction to do so after the student leaves the school. The question is no more res integra. The Division Bench of this Court, in the case of Vinod s/o Bapurao Singewar Vs. The State of Maharashtra & others (Writ Petition No.4264 of 2009), has held that, in view of the Appendix Six of the Secondary Schools Code and the Government Resolution dated 16th March 1983, the Education Officer has jurisdiction to consider the said issue even after the student leaves the school. 4 In that view of the matter, we allow the petition in following terms: (i) The Respondent No.4 is directed to consider the request of the petitioner for correction of the school record of the {3} petitioner by following procedure prescribed by the above- numbered Government Resolution dated 16th March 1983 read with Appendix Six of the Secondary Schools Code. Subject to grant of sanction by the appropriate authority, the school record of the petitioner may be corrected in accordance with the said provisions. The proposal be submitted to the appropriate authority for grant of sanction, within four weeks from today. On receipt of the said proposal, the appropriate authority shall decide the same as expeditiously as possible and in any case not later than eight weeks from its receipt on its own merits in accordance with law. The appropriate authority to afford opportunity of hearing to the petitioner. In the event, an adverse order is passed against the petitioner, the Authority shall record reasons therefor. (ii) It is made clear that all questions whether in respect of request for sanction or for carrying out amendment in the school record, will have to be decided on its own merit in accordance with law. R.M.BORDE B.R.GAVAI JUDGE JUDGE adb/wp531310