PARSHURAM NAGNATH KAMALE Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Rule. By consent of the parties, rule is made returnable forthwith and heard finally.

(2.) By this petition, the petitioner has prayed for quashing and setting aside the order dated 25th April 2017 passed by the respondent No.2- the Scheduled Tribe Certificate Scrutiny Committee (Scrutiny Committee) whereby the claim of the petitioner of belonging to Koli-Mahadev, Scheduled Tribe has been invalidated.

(3.) The petitioner has averred that despite several close relatives of the petitioner having been declared to be belonging to Koli-Mahadev, Scheduled Tribe, the respondent No.2-Scrutiny Committee has not taken into consideration the documents as well as the validity certificates issued in favour of the near blood relatives of the petitioner, including the real brother of the petitioner. The petitioner has further asserted that the Scrutiny Committee has simply brushed aside the documents and validity certificates, which amply show that the petitioner belongs to Koli-Mahadev, scheduled tribe. The respondent No.2-Scrutiny Committee has held that the petitioner has not succeeded in establishing the cultural affinity to the KoliMahadeo, scheduled tribe. On this premise, the claim of the petitioner was unjustifiably negatived.