JUDGMENT

Sunil B. Shukre, J. - Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith. Heard finally by consent.

2. The petitioner is a student, who has obtained a Scheduled Tribe Certificate regarding her Halba tribe status under Section 4 of the Maharashtra Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, De-Notified Tribes (Vimukta Jatis), Nomadic Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Special Backward Category (Regulation of Issuance and Verification of) Caste Certificate Act, 2000 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act, 2000' for short). The petitioner has secured her admission to B.D.S. Course in open category. The petitioner submitted an on-line application on 11/02/2020 to the respondent-Committee for seeking verification of her Scheduled Tribe Certificate. While the online application was accepted, according to the petitioner, the physical application was refused to be entertained by the respondent-Committee. No written communication of refusal has been issued to the petitioner by the respondent. But, according to the petitioner, it is the fact that the respondent has closed the chapter of scrutiny of her caste/tribe certificate, as of now.

3. The respondent has filed reply in the matter and the respondent doe