VITHAL Vs. SCHEDULED TRIBE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith. With the consent of the learned counsel for the parties, this Petition is heard finally at the stage of admission.

(2.) This Petition impugns the Judgment and Order passed by the Respondent Scrutiny Committee dated 30/12/2006 invalidating the tribe claim of the petitioner as belonging to Mahadev Koli, Scheduled Tribe. The Respondent Scrutiny Committee had directed the Petitioner to appear before it on 21/12/2006 and has also directed the Petitioner to submit his reply to the Vigilance Cell Report. The Petitioner, however, was not present before the Committee and therefore the Respondent Scrutiny Committee proceeded ex-parte and invalidated the Tribe Claim of the Petitioner.

(3.) Since a short question is raised in this Petition, we need not dilate on the other aspects of the matter. According to the Petitioner, application of adjournment came to be submitted by the Petitioner on 20/12/2006 intimating the Committee that the Petitioner was indisposed and therefore an adjournment was sought for. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the Respondent Scrutiny Committee has confirmed the filing of such application seeking adjournment. The Committee, however, declined to grant adjournment and proceeded ex pare to decide the tribe claim of the Petitioner.