Madhya Pradesh High Court, taking a firm stance on Minister Pratima Bagri’s caste certificate controversy, has directed the High-Level Caste Scrutiny Committee to complete the investigation and deliver a final decision within 60 days. A division bench of Justices Vivek Agarwal and Justice Avinendra Kumar Singh clarified that unnecessary delay in such sensitive matters is not in the interest of justice. The court also directed that the investigation be conducted impartially and transparently, giving the parties concerned a full opportunity to be heard.

 

The petitioner and the State have been tasked with sending a copy of the order to the committee by April 30. This case relates to a writ petition (WP-8658-2026) filed by Congress leader Pradeep Ahirwar, in which he filed a complaint on March 31, 2025, questioning the validity of the minister’s Scheduled Caste certificate. The petitioner alleged that the complaint had been pending for a long time, affecting the judicial process.

 

Previously, another petition (WP-5948/2026) filed on the same issue was withdrawn due to unclear locus standi, providing temporary relief to the minister. However, the court still allowed the minister to pursue the matter in the future through due process. It is noteworthy that Pratima Bagri, an MLA from the Raigaon (SC) reserved seat in Satna district, faces allegations that she belongs to a community not included in the Scheduled Caste list. The petitioner has alleged that she contested the election on the basis of a fake certificate, while the minister has consistently denied these allegations and maintained that her documents are valid. The High Court also clarified in its order that if the committee does not reach a decision by June 30, 2026, petition can be revived. Legal and political implications of this case may be seen in the coming days.