P. Sam Koshy, J
1. The challenge in the present writ petitions is to the order dated 05.03.2009 (Annexure P/1) which has been passed by the High Powered Caste
Scrutiny Committee (in short, the Committee) constituted by the State Govt. to decide the veracity of the caste certificate issued by the competent
authorities. Vide the impugned order, the caste status of the petitioner has not been certified by the Committee on the ground that the petitioner was
unable to provide documents in respect of his being resident of the State of the Chhattisgarh prior to 10.08.1950.
2. At this juncture, it has been brought to the notice of the court that the State Govt. has subsequently vide circular dated 29.06.2016 taken a policy
decision that for the verification of the caste certificate, documents prior to 10.08.1950 will not be insisted upon by the Committee, however, there was
a rider attached to the circular that in the event if a complaint is received by the department so far as caste status of the petitioner, then it shall be the
responsibility of the employee to prove and establish his/her status before the Committee by leading appropriate cogent document to establish the caste
status.
3. This issuance of the circular dated 29.06.2016 is not disputed by the State Counsel.
4. Given the aforesaid facts and circumstances of the case, this court is of the opinion that in the light of the circular dated 29.06.2016 issued by the
State Govt., the impugned order dated 05.03.2009 issued by the High Powered Caste Scrutiny Committee may not be sustainable for the moment and
the same therefore deserves to be and is accordingly set aside. The matter is remitted back to the Committee who may without insisting upon the
documents prior to 1950 consider other relevant documents and credentials in possession of the petitioner and pass appropriate orders on the claim of
the petitioner for verification of the caste status of the petitioner.
5. With the aforesaid, the writ petition stands allowed and disposed of.