SAKSHI Vs. VICE-CHAIRMAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Rule. Heard finally, by the consent of the learned counsel for the parties.

(2.) The challenge is to the order dtd. 18/10/2022 passed by respondent No. 1 Scheduled Tribe Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee, Nagpur (for short - "The Committee"), whereby the petitioner's claim that she belongs to "Mana" Scheduled Tribe came to be rejected.

(3.) The petitioner's case is that she belongs to the Mana' Scheduled Tribe. Accordingly, on 29/9/2017, Sub-Divisional Officer Katol issued a caste certificate in her favour. The petitioner completed her education in Pharmacy Course, but for want of a Validity Certificate, respondent Nos. 2 and 3 have neither returned original documents nor declared the result of the 5 to 8 semesters; therefore, through college, the petitioner submitted her caste certificate along with necessary documents to the Committee for verification. The Committee vide order dtd. 10/8/2018 rejected the caste claim of the petitioner of belonging to the Mana' Scheduled Tribe. The said order was challenged by her in Writ Petition No. 5175/2018, which petition was partly allowed, and the matter was remanded back to the Committee for fresh decision. On remand, dissatisfied with the documents on record, the Committee called for a detailed enquiry from the Vigilance Cell. After a thorough enquiry, the Vigilance Cell submitted its report to the Committee on 12/1/2022. During the enquiry, the Vigilance Cell noticed adverse entries regarding the claim of the petitioner, and accordingly, the opinion was submitted to the Committee. The Committee, having considered the Vigilance Cell Report, documents on record and the explanation submitted by the petitioner, has invalidated her claim of belonging to the 'Mana' Scheduled Tribe, hence, this petition.