SUNIL Vs. VICE-CHAIRMAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard. Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith. Heard finally by consent of learned counsel for the parties.

(2.) The challenge raised in the present petition is to the order passed by the Scrutiny Committee dtd. 26/11/2021 thereby invalidating the petitioners' claim of belonging to Thakur Scheduled Tribe.

(3.) The petitioners to substantiate their claim of belonging to Thakur Scheduled Tribe sought to rely upon various documents, some of which were of the pre-independence era having the entry "Thakur". The Scrutiny Committee referred the proceedings to the Vigilance Cell and after considering its report found that though old documents referred to by the petitioners had the entry "Thakur", it proceeded to invalidate the claim on the ground that the entry "Thakur" was also found in persons belonging to higher castes. It held that the petitioners did not satisfy the affinity test and hence held against the petitioners.