MP Minister Pratima Bagri’s caste certificate to be investigated:HC orders inquiry committee to make decision within 60 days

In the caste certificate controversy of MP’s Minister of State for Urban Administration Pratima Bagri, the Madhya Pradesh High Court, instead of ordering a direct investigation, has sent the matter to the High Level Caste Scrutiny Committee and directed it to decide as per the prescribed procedure. The court has clarified that the committee should decide on the validity of the certificate within 60 days. Congress Scheduled Caste Department State President Pradeep Ahirwar gave this information at a press conference at the State Congress headquarters in Bhopal. Petition filed by SC Congress President
The Division Bench of the High Court said during the hearing that the committee will conduct a hearing based on the application given on March 31, 2025, on the complaint of petitioner Pradeep Ahirwar, and the concerned party (Respondent No. 3) will be given full opportunity of hearing. The Government Advocate presented on behalf of the state government assured the court that the competent authority, namely the High Level Caste Scrutiny Committee, if a decision has not been taken earlier, will now conduct an investigation as per rules and take a decision, and will inform the petitioner of the order. Scrutiny Committee to take decision by June 30 The court also stated in its order that the committee will call the concerned party and conduct an investigation as per the prescribed procedure and will determine whether the Scheduled Caste (SC) certificate issued in favor of Pratima Bagri is valid or not. After completion of the investigation, the committee will pass an appropriate order. The court has directed both parties to send a copy of this order to the committee via speed post by April 30, 2026, so that action can be ensured within the timeline. Along with this, the High Court has also clarified that if the committee does not take any decision by June 30, 2026, then the petitioner will have the liberty to revive this petition. This is the matter
Congress leader Pradeep Ahirwar had filed it. In which it was alleged that Pratima Bagri wrongly obtained a Scheduled Caste (SC) certificate, availed reservation benefits and on that basis won the election from Raigaon assembly seat of Satna district and obtained the ministerial post. The petitioner claims that the Bagri caste is not included in the list of Scheduled Castes in the concerned area and the minister actually belongs to the Rajput/Thakur community. The petition, citing the caste census of 1961 and 1971, the decision of the state-level caste scrutiny committee of 2003 and the central government’s gazette of 2007, states that ‘Bagri’ has not been included in the SC category. The court was also informed that the petitioner had earlier filed a petition in this matter, which was later withdrawn. Now the petition had been filed again with new documents and facts.