Bombay HC to hear Sameer Wankhede's plea against Nawab Malik's locus before caste panel

Now, the Bombay High Court will hear former NCB officer Sameer Wankhede's plea against Nawab Malik's locus before caste panel.

Former NCB officer Sameer Wankhede has approached the Bombay High Court with a petition challenging the locus of Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Nawab Malik in challenging his caste certificate before the Maharashtra Caste Scrutiny Committee on June 28.

The committee had earlier rejected Wankhede's plea. The former NCB officer went against it and approached the high court.

Wankhede's plea came up for hearing before the bench of Justices RD Dhanuka and Madhav Jamdar

Advocate RK Mendadkar appearing for Malik said that he has preliminary objection to the petition as the "entire cause of action is in Mumbai. This should have gone to the original side."

Justice Jamdar said, "This could be related to service rules so should go to the bench dealing with it." However, Justice Dhanuka said, "This bench has both appellate as well as original side assignment. You want them to amend the cause title? What purpose will be served with that?" Mendadkar said he just wanted to point to the inherent flaw in the plea and could also argue on the merits of Wankhede's plea.

However, government pleader PP Kakde, appearing for the Maharashtra government and the caste committee, sought an adjournment as he said that he got the petition only a day before and would need to take instructions.

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