2011 (3) ALL MR 206
In the High Court of Bombay at Aurangabad
S.S. SHINDE
Shri Ulhas Nimba Choudhari & Another
Versus
Sardar Khandu Tadvi B/H - 1. Guljar Sardar Tadvi (Died through L.Rs.) & Others
WRIT PETITION NO. 789 OF 1990
Decided on : 15-12-2010
The Tahsildar is directed to refer the caste claim of respondent Nos. 1 to 6 herein to the scrutiny committee within one month from the date of receipt of copy of this order. Thereafter the committee to take final decision within six months from the date of receipt of caste claim. If the decision of the scrutiny committee becomes final in favour of the contesting respondents, the concerned authorities shall ensure that the possession of the land does not continue with the non-tribal petitioners and the same shall not be delivered even to respondents unless and until the matter is dealt with appropriately under the Maharashtra Agricultural Lands (Ceiling on Holdings) Act, 1951.
1. Heard learned counsel for respective parties.
2. The brief facts of the case, as disclosed in the petition, are as under;- The suit land situated in survey No. 56/1-C admeasuring 1 Hector and 20 R assessed at Rs.5/- and 93 paise, situated at village Sangvi (Bk), Tq. Yawal, district Jalgaon. The said land previously was held by the respondents as an owners and they have sold their land to the petitioners herein in the year 1968 for consideration of Rs.9000/- under a registered sale deed and from the said consideration they have purchased another big peace of land. The petitioners thereafter improved the suit land by spending more than Rs.50,000/- and converted the dry land into Bagayat land. Thereafter, a consolidation scheme was made applicable in the said village and the suit land alongwith other lands are consolidated into Gat No.160 and at present the suit land is no more in existence. The petitioners are in exclusive possession and control, enjoyment of suit land till today. It is further case of the petitioners that the Assistant Collector, suo moto started a proceeding under Section 3 of the Maharashtra Restoration of Lands to Scheduled Tribes Act, 1974 (hereinafter for the sake of brevity referred to as the “Restoration Act”) as the enquiry was pending, the petitioners obtained stay order from the Hon’ble Supreme court but subsequently in Lingappa’s case, the Hon’ble Supreme court has upheld the Constitutional validity of the Restoration Act, which is reported in AIR 1985 Supreme court page 389. Thereafter the Tahsildar of Yawal issued a fresh notice U/sec. 3 of the Restoration act and started an enquiry U/sec. 3 of the said Act. The petitioners have raised various law points. It was specifically submitted by the petitioners that the respondents are not tribal as they are “Muslim Tadvi or Muslim Pathan” and hence they are not tribal. It was further submitted that the respondents are following Muslim religion and their conversion in Muslim Religion is complete, and after conversion to Islam Religion the respondents have not maintained a tribal way of life on all matters. It was further submitted that the caste certificate issued to the respondents are illegal and bad in law as they are issued without proper enquiry and issued only on the basis of affidavits filed by the respondents. It was further submitted that as per the Resolution No. CBC/1680/43669/D-V, Mantralaya, dated 29th October, 1980, issued by the Government of Maharashtra Social Welfare, Cultural Welfare, sports and Tourism Department, a detailed enquiry is contemplated before a Caste Certificate is issued and for that purpose a person claiming benefit under the Restoration Act is required to file an application in the prescribed manner and thereafter detailed enquiry is contemplated in view of the said resolution and thereafter, a caste certificate can be issued in the prescribed form. It is pertinent to note that the said procedure is not followed by the Tahsildar hence, the caste certificate is issued to the respondent that they are Tribal is illegal, bad in law and hence it should be ignored. The petitioners further stated that the Government issued another Circular vide No.Vati/DA/482/KA-4 dated 8.9.1982, in which it has been specifically mentioned that the instructions issued in Resolution dated 29.10.1980 should be followed strictly. It has been further mentioned that if there is any ambiguity about the status of any person, then the case may be referred to Social Welfare, Cultural Affairs, Sports and Tourism Department. The further clarification is made by the Government by issuing guidance vide order No. CBB/1684/309/11, dated 24th April, 1985 in which it has been specifically mentioned at serial No. 5(13) that Tadvi who has converted himself into Muslim Religion are not Adiwashis. It is further case of the petitioners that inspite of all the contentions raised before the Tahsildar, the Tahsildar by order and judgment dated 31.10.1985 h
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