R. K. Deshpande, J
1. Rule made returnable forthwith. Learned AGP waives notice for respondents. Heard finally by consent of the learned counsels appearing for the
parties.
2. This petition challenges order dated 07.11.2019 passed by the District Caste Verification and Scrutiny Committee, Amravati Division, Amravati
invalidating the claim of the petitioner for Chhaparband, Vimukta Jati (A). When the matter was listed before us initially on 17.12.2019, we passed an
order as under:
“Heard.
Father of the petitioner was granted Caste Validity Certificate on 5.12.2009 by the Scrutiny Committee at Amravati for ‘Chhaparband
(V.J.N.T.)’ category. However, the same Committee has invalidated claim of the petitioner for the same caste by the impugned order. The
Validity Certificate in the name of father was produced before the Scrutiny Committee.
Issue notice for final disposal of the matter returnable on 25.2.2020.
Mr. Amit Madiwale, learned Assistant Government Pleader waives service of notice for respondent Nos.1 and 2.
In the meantime, effect and operation of the order dated 16.10.2019 passed by the Committee shall remain stayed.â€
3. In response to the aforesaid order no reply is filed till this date by the respondents. The petitioner has filed Civil Application No.1177 of 2020 for
appropriate order to expeditiously dispose of his writ petition as the petitioner has already appeared for National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (UG)-
2020 and is required to produce the validity certificate for admission. Copy of this civil application is tendered to the respondents on 16.10.2020 but no
reply is filed to it till this date.
4. The order passed by the Scrutiny Committee is in exercise of the quasi judicial power recording reasons for rejection of the claim, which cannot be
supplemented by additional reasons by filing a affidavit. We, therefore, do not find any reason to grant time to the respondents to file reply in this
matter, which has been asked by the learned AGP.
5. Before the Scrutiny Committee the petitioner produced nine documents in support of his claim for Chhaparband, Vimukta Jati (A) category. These
documents including at serial No.8 of caste validity certificate issued by Chhaparband, Vimukta Jati (A) to the father of the petitioner. In two
documents, the caste is recorded as ‘Jogi Fakir’ and ‘Fakir ’. The Committee has, therefore, after taking into consideration these
documents, invalidated the claim.
6. It is not in dispute, rather, it is a finding recorded by the Scrutiny Committee that the document at serial No.8 is caste validity certificate issued in
the name of the father of the petitioner by the same Scrutiny Committee on 05.12.2009. The documents regarding entries of ‘Jogi Fakir’ and
‘Fakir’ are of earlier point of time. Such documents must have been taken into consideration while issuing the caste certificate in the name of
father of the petitioner. There is no finding recording by Scrutiny Committee that the father of the petitioner obtained validity certificate by suppressing
certain material facts or misrepresentation or by practicing fraud. In the absence of any such finding, the issue is concluded by the Division Bench of
this Court in Apoorva d/o Vinay Nichale Vs. Divisional Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee No.1 and others reported in 2010 (6) Mh.L.J. 401.
7. After going through the order passed by the Scrutiny Committee, we find that caste validity certificate issued to the of father of the petitioner dealt
with in paragraph 5. It is recorded that such validity certificate was issued in the name of father of the petitioner on the basis of Circular dated
23.03.2011, which has been cancelled on 16.02.2015 and, therefore, validity certificate would not be a valid proof in support of the claim of the
petitioner. It is however not disputed that such a validity certificate has not been cancelled by the scrutiny committee till this date. Be that as it may,
this aspect has been dealt with by the Division Bench of this Court in its decision in Writ Petition No.5163 of 2018 rendered on 16.10.2019; Ms.
Iftesam D/o Rajjak Shaha Vs. The State of Maharashtra and others. Para 6 of the said decision is reproduced below:
“6. It is seen from the Circular dated 16.2.2015 that now the Government has taken its stand in the matter and accordingly has
withdrawn the Circular dated 23.3.2011. But, while doing so, the Government also has taken its stand regarding validity certificate already
granted to the various persons before 16.2.2015. The Circular dated 16.2.2015 is silent on this aspect of the matter. We are of the view that
the State of Maharashtra must decide its further course of action as regards the validity certificate already granted to different persons on
the basis of 2006-letter and subsequent Circular. We hope that in future, definite decision would be taken by the State of Maharashtra.â€
8. In view of aforesaid finding recorded by this Court, the reasons given by the Scrutiny Committee cannot be sustained for the reason that the caste
validity certificate in the name of father of the petitioner was issued on 05.12.2009 and cancellation of Circular dated 23.3.2011 was done on
16.2.2015. As has been rightly held by this Court, there is no decision taken in respect of this validity certificate issued prior to cancellation of such
certificates. We, therefore, concur such view taken by the Division Bench of this Court.
9. In view of above, this writ petition needs to be allowed and hence we pass an order as under:-
(i) Order dated 16.10.2019 passed by District Caste Verification and Scrutiny Committee, Amravati Division, Amravati on 07.11.2019 is hereby
quashed and set aside.
(ii) The petitioner has established the claim for ‘Chhaparband, Vimukta Jati (A)’ category and the Scrutiny Committee is accordingly directed to
issue caste validity certificate to the petitioner within a period of one week from today.
Rule is made absolute in the above terms. No order as to costs.
10. In view of above, the civil application does not survive and accordingly disposed of.
