V. SATHYAMURTHI Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Challenge in the Writ Petition is to the order of the State Level Scrutiny Committee-III dtd. 25/2/2022, concluding that the Community Certificate issued to the petitioner to the effect that he belongs to Hindu Konda Reddy, a Scheduled Tribe Community is not genuine.

(2.) The petitioner was favoured with the certificate that he belongs to Hindu Konda Reddy, a Scheduled Tribe Community in the year 1977 by the Deputy Tahsildar, Namakkal. He was initially appointed as a Junior Engineer in the Department of Public Works, Government of Puducherry, on 8/8/1986 after due selection. In the year 1990, he was recruited by the Union Public Service Commission as an Assistant Engineer and was appointed as such on 26/9/1990. Even while the petitioner was working as an Assistant Engineer, certain complaints were made regarding his communal status. Such complaints were referred to the Superintendent of Police, Vigilance and Anti Corruption, Puducherry. An enquiry was conducted on 31/1/1994, wherein the Superintendent of Police, Vigilance and Anti Corruption, went to the native place of the petitioner examined the witnesses including the Village Administrative Officer and reached a conclusion that the petitioner in fact belongs to Hindu Konda Reddy, a Community classified as Scheduled Tribe.

(3.) We have heard Mr.P.Wilson, learned Senior Counsel for Mr.G.Sankaran, appearing for the petitioner and Mr.V.Balamurugan, learned Government Pleader, Puducherry appearing for respondents 1 and 2, namely the Administration of the Union Territory and Mrs.C.Sangamithirai, learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the third respondent/the State Level Scrutiny Committee.