1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY APPELLATE SIDE, BENCH AT AURANGABAD WRIT PETITION NO. 8667 OF 2009 Swapnali d/o Sharad Okar ...Petitioner Versus The State of Maharashtra and others ...Respondents WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 8672 OF 2009 Payal d/o Nandram Holkar ...Petitioner Versus The State of Maharashtra and others ...Respondents ..... Mr. Darshan Pokharkar, advocate for the petitioners Mr. S. K. Tambe, A.G.P. for respondent Nos. 1 and 2 Mr. U.S. Malte, Advocate for respondent No.4 ..... CORAM: A.M. KHANWILKAR & S.S. SHINDE, JJ. DATED: 14TH JANUARY, 2010 PER COURT:- 1 The limited relief claimed in these petitions is to direct the respondent No.4 to decide the caste claim of the petitioners expeditiously. The petitioners submitted their respective caste claim to the respondent No.4, through the college, where they took admission. 2 However, the same are still pending before the Committee. The petitioners apprehend that they may be discontinued by the respondent No.4 College on the ground that validation certificate has not been produced during the academic year. We understand the anxiety of the petitioners. As a matter of fact, in such cases, the Committee is expected to dispose of the proceeding expeditiously. That would not only assuage the anxiety of the students but also put at rest the uncertainty in the event the committee were to invalidate the claim of the candidate. Admission taken by such candidate or who has been provided employment on provisional basis would continue to remain in service or complete the course in the college. That would affect the prospects of another candidate against that seat or post. In our opinion, such application should not be kept pending but decided within reasonable time and in any case before the academic year of the college is over so that by the end of the academic year the position is settled both for the college as well the as the candidate. 2 In the circumstances, we direct the respondent No.4 to finally dispose of pending caste claims of the petitioners expeditiously and in any case not later than the end of March, 2010 and submit compliance report to be filed in the Registry of this Court, within the specified time. 3 Needless to observe that till the caste claims of the petitioners 3 are answered by the respondent No.4 Committee, the petitioners shall be entitled to continue their studies, in the respondent College. 4 Petitions disposed of on the above terms. ( S. S. SHINDE. J.) (A. M. KHANWILKAR, J.) rlj/