The Bombay High Court has dismissed a student’s plea for a Scheduled Caste (SC) caste validity certificate based on his mother’s caste. A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Dr. Neela Gokhale ruled that the student, failed to show any proof of discrimination, deprivation, or disadvantage due to his mother’s SC status. The student was born to a Hindu Agri father (non-SC) and a Chambhar mother (SC), claimed SC identity after his parents’ 2016 divorce. He adopted his mother’s surname and received a Chambhar caste certificate in 2023. However, the District Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee rejected it, and the High Court upheld that decision. The Court noted he had a privileged upbringing, attended good schools, and benefited from his father’s caste identity during his early years.
It found no evidence of social exclusion or disadvantage linked to his SC claim. Citing Swanubhuti Jivraj Jain v. State of Maharashtra, the Court said proof of caste-based discrimination is essential for recognition under SC status. The writ petition was dismissed.
