(1.) Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith and heard with the consent of learned counsel appearing for the parties.
(2.) By this Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India petitioner is challenging legality, validity and propriety of the impugned judgment and order dated 13th April, 2018 passed by the Respondent No. 2 - Scheduled Tribe Certificate Scrutiny Committee, Nasik Division, Nasik thereby invalidating the caste claim of the Petitioner as belonging to Thakur, Scheduled Tribe.
(3.) It is the case of the Petitioner that, Petitioner by birth belongs to Thakur tribe which is recognized as Scheduled Tribe under Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 as amended from time to time. The petitioner was therefore granted caste certificate dated 09.06.1992 by the competent authority i.e. Tahsildar and Executive Magistrate, Kalvan, Dist. Nasik certifying that the Petitioner belongs to Thakur tribe which is recognized as Scheduled Tribe. Therefore, the petitioner moved the Respondent No. 2 i.e. Committee for verification of his tribe certificate which was granted by the Tahsildar and Executive Magistrate, Kalvan Dist. Nasik when he was student, on 11.12.2001 and in support of his tribe claim, he has filed several documents of pre-constitution period as well as certificates of validity granted to his blood relatives from paternal side.