JUDGMENT

Vinay Joshi, J. - Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith. The Advocate's Application for the Respondents on institution waives notice of rule. Heard finally by consent of both the parties.

2. The Petitioner has approached this Court on being aggrieved by the Order dated 23.1.2020 thereby rejecting the claim of the Petitioner of belonging to the Hindu (Nhavi) caste, which is recognized as Other Backward Class ("OBC") at Sr. No. 108 under a Government Resolution dated 13.10.1967 in the State of Maharashtra.

3. The lady Petitioner, whose maiden name was Surekha Vasant Mane, has contested the election of Gram Panchayat for the village-Shiroli Pulachi, taluka-Hatkalangale, district-Kolhapur, from the reserved seat for the OBC category. The Petitioner was elected and became a member of the Gram Panchayat of the said village. The Petitioner claims to be belonging to the Hindu (Nhavi) caste, on the basis of the caste certificate issued by the Sub-Divisional Officer, Ichalkaranji, dated 23.12.2016. The Petitioner had applied to the Caste Scrutiny Committee for the verification of her caste claim and for the issuance of validity certificate. The Petitioner had supplied various documents