(1.) This petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India challenges the order dated 19th August, 2013 passed by the Scheduled Tribe Certificate Scrutiny Committee, Konkan Division, Thane (for short 'Caste Scrutiny Committee') whereby the application of the petitioner for validation of her caste certificate, certifying that she belongs to 'Halba scheduled tribe' has been rejected invalidating the caste certificate issued to the petitioner.
(2.) Conspectus of facts as would fall for our consideration are thus :
(3.) For education purposes, the petitioner had made an application to the caste scrutiny committee seeking validity of the caste certificate. This application was forwarded through the Principal, N.G.Acharya and D.K.Marathe College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Chembur, Mumbai. In support of her claim, the petitioner submitted several documents which inter alia included her School leaving Certificate, School leaving certificate of her father, Domicile certificate, Caste certificate of her cousin sister, cousin brother, School leaving certificate of her uncle etc. All these documents according to the petitioner would show that the petitioner and her relatives belonged to 'Halba' schedule tribe. These documents are set out seriatim in paragraph 2 of the impugned order passed by the Caste Scrutiny Committee.