RUPAIBEN JETHABHAI CHAVDA v. STATE OF GUJARAT & Ors.

CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HEMANT M. PRACHCHHAK Date : 02/04/2026 JUDGMENT 1. Rule, returnable forthwith. The learned AGP Ms. Nirali Sarda, waives service of rule on behalf of the respondents. With the consent of the respective parties, the matter is taken up for final hearing today.

By the present Writ Petition, the petitioner is praying for a direction to the respondent No.2 - Mamlatdar & Executive Magistrate, Maliya Hatina, Dist. Junagadh to issue Schedule Tribe Certificate in the prescribed format as required by the Central Government for GDS recruitment in various post office.

The learned counsel Mr. Hardik D. Muchhala appearing for the petitioner submits that the petitioner belongs to Rabari Caste, which is a Scheduled Tribe Category. He submits that the petitioner has already been C/SCA/4524/2026 JUDGMENT DATED: 02/04/2026 issued the caste certificate by the competent authority on

21.03.2017. He submits that the petitioner had applied for GDS recruitment in Postal Department and upon selection, she was called for document verification. The learned counsel submits that the recruitment officer instructed the petitioner to submit the caste certificate in English in the prescribed format of Central Government as per the notification. The learned counsel submits that the petitioner, accordingly, made an application dated

12.03.2026 to the respondent No.2 Mamlatdar & Executive Magistrate, for issuing the Schedule Tribe Certificate in the prescribed format. The learned counsel submits that the said application is pending consideration before the respondent No.2. He submits that appropriate directions are required to be passed. He submits that if the said certificate is not issued to the petitioner, the petitioner will lose her job.

The learned AGP Ms. Nirali Sarda, appearing for the respondent authorities submits that the petitioner has already been issued the caste certificate. She submits that if the application of the petitioner is pending consideration for issuance of caste certificate in the prescribed format, then appropriate orders may be passed.

Considered the submissions and perused the documents on record. To secure the job in Postal C/SCA/4524/2026 JUDGMENT DATED: 02/04/2026 Department, the petitioner is required to submit the caste certificate issued by the competent authority in the prescribed format as required by the Central Government and the same should be in English language. The petitioner has accordingly made an application to the respondent No.2 on 12.03.2026. In view thereof, the respondent No.2 Mamlatdar, is hereby directed to decide the application of the petitioner dated 12.03.2026 and issue the caste certificate to the petitioner in the prescribed format as required by the Central Government for securing the job in Postal Department. It is submitted that the prescribed format has already been annexed with the application made by the petitioner to the respondent No.2.

It is clarified that the caste certificate issued in the prescribed format can be subjected to any further scrutiny by the Caste Scrutiny Committee. Direct service is permitted. SURESH SOLANKI Sd/-

(HEMANT M. PRACHCHHAK,J)