(1.) In this petition the petitioner has challenged the decision of the Caste Scrutiny Committee holding that the petitioner has failed to prove that she belongs to Bawa tribe which is notified as Nomadic Tribe in the State of Maharashtra. The petitioner has also challenged the order passed by the Additional Commissioner, Konkan Division Bombay, the appellate authority, confirming the order of the Caste Scrutiny Committee.
(2.) Initially this writ petition was placed for hearing before the Division Bench. But in view of an apparent conflict in the decisions of this Court and a contention raised that the decision in (Vijay Shrichand Daulatanis v. State of Maharashtra & ors.) 1985(2) Bombay Cases Reporter, 488, requires reconsideration, the matter came to be referred to a larger Bench. This is how this petition came to be placed before this Full Bench.
(3.) On the basis of the arguments advanced before the Division Bench as well as before us, the following questions arise for our consideration :