Summary: Three medical students from Silvassa fought to get back their Scheduled Tribe (ST) status after it was taken away without warning. The Bombay High Court decided in their favor, letting them continue their studies and giving them back the rights they lost.
In 2022, three students, Vishwa Chandubhai Patel, Nidhi Dilip Patel, and Jensi Bipinkumar Patel, from Silvassa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, faced an unexpected problem. Their ST certificates were canceled, which put their medical school admissions at risk. They decided to take the issue to the Bombay High Court.
On October 8, 2025, the court had already given temporary permission for Vishwa Chandubhai Patel, Nidhi Dilip Patel, and Jensi Bipinkumar Patel to continue their studies while the case was still being decided. The students were in the final stages of their medical program, doing internships.
"We direct the Respondents to process and complete the formalities for issuance of Degree Certificates," the court stated.
The cancellation of their ST certificates was a major setback. It happened on January 14, 2021, without any warning to Vishwa Chandubhai Patel, Nidhi Dilip Patel, and Jensi Bipinkumar Patel. The court found this action to be unfair, as the students weren’t given a chance to explain their side.
"The tribe status has been invalidated without granting the petitioners an opportunity to present their version," the court noted.
The court, led by Judges Ravindra V. Ghuge and Ashwin D. Bhobe, decided on November 6, 2025, to give back the students' tribe certificates. This decision was based on earlier decisions that supported the rights of people in similar situations.
"This Petition is allowed in terms of prayer clauses," the judgment read.
Vishwa Chandubhai Patel, Nidhi Dilip Patel, and Jensi Bipinkumar Patel can now continue their medical careers without the fear of losing their degrees. This ruling also ensures they can apply for further studies with their rightful ST status.
