VARSHA Vs. DIVISIONAL CASTE CERTIFICATE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Leave granted.

(2.) We have heard the learned counsel for the parties.

(3.) It is alleged that the appellant belongs to Kunbi caste which is recognized as Other Backward Caste in the State of Maharashtra. She got married on 3.9.1992 to Sayyad Arif Sayyad Munir who belongs to 'Muslim Attar' caste which is also recognized as Other Backward Caste in the State of Maharashtra. The appellant obtained a caste certificate on 19.9.1996 showing her caste to be 'Muslim Attar'. In November 2003, she contested the election of Municipal Corporation, Ahmednagar for the seat reserved for Women-OBC and was elected as a Corporator. After she was elected as a Corporator, her caste certificate showing her caste as 'Muslim Attar' was submitted for scrutiny. Subsequently, she came to know that she cannot obtain the caste certificate of her husband's caste. Therefore, she obtained a certificate on 7.6.2005 showing her caste as 'Kunbi' and submitted this certificate for verification. The Divisional Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee held the certificate showing the caste as 'Muslim Attar' as invalid and declared that the appellant Varsha does not belong to 'Muslim Attar'. She filed a writ petition before the High Court which was dismissed and the order of the Caste Scrutiny Committee was upheld by the High Court. Thus, the appellant is before us.