B.H. MARLAPALLE, J.:---Pursuant to our order passed on 9-8-2001, the caste verification committee has adjudicated upon the caste claim of the petitioner in Writ Petition No. 4219/2000 and submitted a report dated 21-9-2001 to us holding that the petitioner does not belong to Kunbi caste and the Maratha caste is not a sub-caste of Kunbi caste. By our order dated 24-9-2001, we had granted leave for amendment and instead of amending the petition memo, the petitioner preferred to substitute the same and this was allowed by us and in the said substituted petition, the petitioner has challenged the legality, propriety and justifiability of the scrutiny committee's report.

2. We have heard the respective parties at length including Shri B.L. Sagar, learned Counsel for the petitioner in Writ Petition No. 2885/2000 and we have proceeded to decide the instant petitions finally on their being restored by the Apex Court vide its order dated 20-7-2001.

3. The petitioner in Writ Petition No. 4219/2000 was purportedly issued a caste certificate on 28-12-1993 that he belongs to Kunbi caste, which is listed in the other backward classes by the State Government. Based on this caste certifica