MANISH PITALE, J.

1. In our country Tribe / Caste is a recognised basis for identifying groups and communities in order to implement the policy of affirmative action including reservation. It cannot be disputed that close blood relations and persons related to each other on the paternal side belong to one and the same caste / tribe. It cannot be that father belongs to a particular caste / tribe and the sons and daughters belong to another. Hence, uniformity of status in terms of belonging to a particular caste / tribe is necessary to be recognised, so as to ensure that members of the same family belonging to a caste / tribe to whom benefits of reservation and other affirmative action have been granted, are not deprived of such benefits.

2. In the instant petition, the grievance raised by the Petitioners, who are brothers, is - as to how can they be deprived of the status of belonging to the Scheduled Tribe - Mahadeo Koli, when the claims of their own sister, a cousin and uncle have been recognised as belonging to the said Scheduled Tribe and when findings in their ca