V LALITHA Vs. STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners filed the present writ petition for issuance of an appropriate writ, order or direction more in the nature of writ of mandamus declaring the action of the 2nd respondent in limiting the social status certificate dated 26-10-1996 issued to the petitioners as being valid for educational purpose only as illegal, arbitrary and unconstitutional and issue consequential direction that the petitioners are entitled to be treated as Bhagatha Caste which is a Scheduled Tribe for all purposes including education, service etc., and pass such other suitable orders.

(2.) Sri D.V. Sitharama Murthy, the learned Counsel representing the respondents had taken this Court through the averments made in the affidavit filed in support of the writ petition and also certain interim orders which were made and subsequently vacated. The learned Counsel also had drawn the attention of this Court to the caste certificate issued by the Mandal Revenue Officer, Koyyuru and would contend that limiting the same only for educational purpose definitely cannot be sustained.

(3.) Per contra the learned Government Pleader for Social Welfare had drawn the attention of this Court to Andhra Pradesh (Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes) Regulation of Issue of Community Certificates Act, 1993 and the Rules made thereunder and would submit that in view of the same liberty may be given to the petitioners to approach the Competent Authority under the Act and the Rules for the purpose of getting regular social status certificate for other purposes also since the prior certificate was made valid for educational purpose only.