The three (3) petitioners assail the orders of the Government in G.O.Ms.No.22, Social Welfare (Department), dated 05.03.2002, whereby and whereunder, they in exercise of powers under Section 7(2) of A.P. (Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes & Backward Classes) Regulation of Issue of Community Certificates Act, 1993 (for brevity, the Act), rejected the appeal filed by the petitioners against the orders of the District Collector, the second respondent herein, who by order dated 31.12.2000, cancelled the Caste Certificates issued to the petitioners as belonging to Lambada (Scheduled Tribe).

The Girijana Lambadies Brundam, Adilabad gave a complaint that the first petitioner and his two sons, petitioner Nos.2 and 3, obtained false Certificates as belonging to Lambada community though they migrated from Maharashtra. In exercise of powers under Section 5 of the Act, the second respondent constituted a District Scrutiny Committee (D.S.C.) under Rule 8 of the A.P. Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes Issue of Community, Nativity and Date of Birth Certificates Rules, 1997 (for brevity, the Rules). The said Committee under the Chairmanship of the Joint Collector, issu