AKASH SUDHAKAR PAWAR Vs. VICE CHAIRMAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Rule. Since the petitioner seeks to pursue further education, the Rule is made returnable forthwith and learned counsel appearing for the parties have been heard finally.

(2.) The challenge raised by the petitioner is to the order passed by the Scrutiny Committee on 27/6/2023 invalidating his claim of belonging to 'Thakur' Scheduled Tribe. Inter alia, the petitioner has relied upon the documents dtd. 5/3/1919, 23/4/1930 and 16/11/1923 with the entry 'Thakur' to contend that his claim was liable to be upheld. These documents have been verified by the Vigilance Cell and the entries in question have been noticed. During the course of Vigilance enquiry, the documents of the year 1950 and 1951 with the entry 'Marathe' were found. In the reply to the report of the Vigilance Cell, the petitioner has denied his relationship with the said persons. The Scrutiny Committee, has principally rejected the claim of the petitioner on the ground that there is absence of affinity with 'Thakur' Scheduled Tribe.

(3.) On hearing the learned counsel for the parties and after perusing the record maintained by the Scrutiny Committee, we find the pre-independence documents of the year 1919, 1923, and 1930 of the predecessors of the petitioners have the entry 'Thakur'. These documents carry great probative value and are required to be given necessary weightage in this regard.