Quick Summary: Kedar Pawar, an 18-year-old student from Amravati, Maharashtra, faced obstacles in securing his engineering seat due to delays in getting his Tribe Validity Certificate. The Bombay High Court ruled in his favor, ensuring his admission by creating an additional seat just for him.
Kedar Pawar, a smart student from the Thakur Tribe, wanted to study engineering after finishing high school. On December 13, 2023, he applied for his Tribe Validity Certificate, which was necessary for his admission under the Scheduled Tribe category.
The admission process for engineering courses began on June 20, 2025, and Kedar got a spot at Pimpri Chinchwad College of Engineering in Pune. However, the college required the Tribe Validity Certificate by September 4, 2025. Kedar asked for more time via email, as the certificate was delayed.
"Kedar was informed by text message that he needed to upload the Tribe Validity Certificate by 09/04/2025."
On September 8, 2025, Kedar's admission was canceled because he didn't have the certificate. He filed a request to get his admission back. The court told the committee to speed up the process of issuing his certificate, which he finally received on September 24, 2025.
Kedar didn't give up and filed another request to challenge the exclusion of Scheduled Tribes from the extended deadline for certificate submission. The court, led by Judges Rajnish R. Vyas and Anil S. Kilor, ruled in Kedar's favor on December 8, 2025.
"An order is issued to the State of Maharashtra to create an extra seat for admission."
The court's decision stressed the importance of treating all reserved categories fairly, emphasizing that small details should not stop a student's educational journey.
The court ruled that Kedar should be given an extra seat, ensuring he could continue his education. This decision highlights the need to provide fair chances in education for everyone, especially those from marginalized communities.
