(1.) Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith and heard finally by consent of learned Counsel for respective parties.
(2.) Petitioners, in both the petitions, are challenging the orders passed by Respondent No.2Committee invalidating their caste claim on the ground that parents of petitioners are originally residents of District Bider, which forms part of Karnataka State and that they have migrated to the State of Maharashtra after 10.08.1950 i.e. after enforcement of Constitution Scheduled Castes Order, 1950.
(3.) It is not disputed that parents and forefathers of petitioners are original residents of District Bider, the geographical area, which was forming part of erstwhile State of Hyderabad, before States ReOrganization. The part of District Bider, after re organization of States in 1956, has become part of State of Karnataka. It is also not disputed that petitioners originally belong to an area which is predominantly a Marathi speaking area, which presently forms part of State of Karnataka. The State of Maharashtra has claimed that 865 villages, presently included in the State of Maharashtra, which comprises of predominantly Marathi speaking population, shall in fact form part of State of Maharashtra. The State of Maharashtra has extended benefits to the residents of disputed 865 villages which presently form part of State of Karnataka after reorganization of States in the matter of education and employment. A Resolution has been passed by the State of Maharashtra on 25.04.2007 extending opportunity in employment to the residents of 865 disputed bordering villages in the cadre of primary teachers/Shikshan Sevaks. The Diploma in Education awarded by the State of Karnataka i.e. T.C.H. is equated with D.Ed. qualification recognised in the State of Maharashtra, thereby extending opportunity of employment to the eligible candidates from disputed 865 bordering villages.