MADHURI DHANANJAY NALAWADE Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Rule, returnable forthwith. Heard finally by consent of the parties.

(2.) The Petitioner challenges the order dated 20th May, 2016 passed by the Scheduled Tribe Certificate Scrutiny Committee, Pune Region, Pune (herein referred to as the Committee for short) invalidating the caste claim of the Petitioner as belonging to the Thakar - Scheduled Tribe.

(3.) It is the Petitioner's case that she was granted a caste certificate as belonging to Thakar - Scheduled Tribe by the Competent Authority on 15th July, 2013. As the Petitioner intended to contest election of Gram Panchayat, Kanheri in the Scheduled Tribe category, by a letter dated 16th Oct., 2015 she requested the Committee to decide her tribe claim expeditiously. The Petitioner filled her nomination form from Mahatma Gandhi Ward No. 1 on 17th Oct., 2015. The Petitioner undertook to produce her Caste Validity Certificate within six months failing which, she will be disqualified retrospectively. The Petitioner who was elected as a member of Gram Panchayat, Kanheri from Scheduled Tribe category on 4th Oct., 2011 was elected as a Sarpanch on 10th Dec., 2015.