B.P. DHARMADHIKARI, J.

1.Order dated 16/10/2004 passed by Caste Scrutiny Committee invalidating caste claim of petitioner as belonging to Halba scheduled tribe forms subject matter of challenge in this matter. Impugned order is under Maharashtra Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Denotified Tribes (Vimukta Jatis) Nomadic Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Special Backward Category (Regulation of Issuance and Verification of) Caste Certificate Act, 2000—referred to as Act no.23 of 2001 hereafter. Petitioner has sought that caste certificate on 9/3/1983 & contested election as councilor of Municipal Council, Bhandara on 22/1/2002 against a reserved seat. Because of this invalidation, Collector had declared him disqualified on 6/11/2004 and it was recalled on 22/11/2004 as this Court on 11/11/2004 stayed the order of Scrutiny Committee. Thereafter, during pendency of this petition & because of orders dated 29/11/2004 in it, he has been elected again in January,2007 as scheduled tribe candidate on the strength of same caste certificate & current tenure is due to expire on 2012.

2.In this background, we have heard Adv. Narnaware for petitioner, Adv. Patil for respondent 2 Sc