SANTOSH BABURAO MASKE Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The challenge in this petition is to the order dated 25 th April 2008 passed by Respondent No.2 - Committee invalidating the caste claim of the Petitioner as belonging to Thakar Scheduled Tribe.

(2.) Brief background of the matter is as follows: The rejection of the caste claim of the Petitioner by the Caste Scrutiny Committee was challenged by the Petitioner by filing a Writ Petition before this Court, which came to be dismissed. Aggrieved by the said order, the Petitioner preferred an Appeal before the Hon'ble Supreme Court. Vide order dtd. 12/12/2025, the Hon'ble Supreme Court partly allowed the Appeal, set aside the order passed by this Court, and remanded the matter for fresh consideration. The relevant paragraphs from the order dtd. 12/12/2025 are reproduced hereinbelow for ready reference.

(3.) The tribe Thakar has been recognised as Scheduled Tribe by virtue of SC/ST Orders (Amendment) Act, 1976 which came into force with effect from 27/7/1997. The Petitioner was granted the caste certificate certifying Thakar tribe as recognised as Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe order (2) 1976 which came into force w.e.f. 27/7/1997. The Petitioner was granted caste certificate certifying Thakar tribe as Scheduled tribe on 6/5/2002.