SURESH SUPADU SALUNKE Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard. Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith. Heard finally by consent of the parties. Learned A.G.P. waives service for all the respondents.

(2.) By this petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the petitioner is taking exception to the judgment and order dtd. 24/04/2023, passed by respondent No.3/Scheduled Tribe Certificate Scrutiny Committee, Dhule (for short 'the committee'), in a proceeding under Sec. 7 of the Maharashtra Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, De-Notified Tribes (Vimukta Jatis), Nomadic Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Special Backward Category (Regulation of Issuance and Verification of) Caste Certificate Act, 2000 (for short 'the 2000 Act'). By this judgment and order the committee has refused to validate and instead, ordered confiscation and cancellation of the petitioner's 'Thakur' Scheduled Tribe certificate, alongwith initiation of action under Ss. 10 and 11 of the 2000 Act.

(3.) On being appointed as Police Constable from the Scheduled Tribe category on 01/03/1988, the tribe claim of the petitioner, was forwarded by respondent No.4/Superintendent of Police, Mumbai to the scrutiny committee by letter dtd. 12/08/2013 and the same is finally decided by the order dtd. 24/04/2023. In the meantime, on 30/09/2022, the petitioner is superannuated and on account of invalidation of tribe claim, his pension and retiral benefits are withheld.