BALAJI Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Caste Scrutiny Committee, Aurangabad was tasked upon to decide the claims of Rushali Balaji Chitale and Akshay Balaji Chitale in respect of 'Mannerwarlu ' Tribe. The Committee proceeded to invalidate the tribe claims of Rushali and Akshay vide judgment and order dtd. 19/10/2018. Rushali and Akshay had relied upon validity certificates issued in favour of several of their relatives, including their father. Rejection of tribe claims of Rushali and Akshay has triggered issuance of Show Cause Notices to their relatives, including their father, for cancellation of their respective validity certificates. Such Show Cause Notices have been subject matter of challenge before us in the present petitions.

(2.) Since the issue involved in all the writ petitions is common, we have discussed the facts in Writ Petition No.2552 of 2019 filed by Balaji Gunaji Chitale, who is father of Rushali and Akshay.

(3.) Balaji (hereinafter referred to as 'the Petitioner ') has challenged Show Cause Notice dtd. 26/11/2018 issued by Scheduled Tribe Certificate Verification Committee, Aurangabad conveying him that a suspicion has been raised in respect of the validity certificate dtd. 16/8/2008 issued to him. Another communication dtd. 5/2/2019 is sent to him conveying him detailed reasons for issuance of the Show Cause Notice and asking him to show cause as to why his validity certificate should not be cancelled.