JUDGMENT

A. S. Chandurkar, J. - Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith and heard the learned counsel for the parties.

The order dated 23/10/2019 passed by the District Caste Certificate Verification Committee, Gadchiroli cancelling the Caste Validity Certificate issued to the petitioner on 17/12/2009 is under challenge in this writ petition filed under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India, particularly on the ground that the impugned order as passed is without jurisdiction.

2. The petitioner who claims to belong to Zade-Nomadic Tribe-C was issued a Caste Validity Certificate by the Scrutiny Committee on 17/12/2009. The petitioner's nephew sought verification of his Caste Certificate and he thus approached the Scrutiny Committee. The petitioner's nephew sought to rely upon various documents including the Validity Certificate issued to the petitioner. During the process of verification of the petitioner's nephew's caste certificate the Research Officer and Member Secretary of the Scrutiny Committee issued a show cause notice to the petitioner on 15/03/2019. The petitioner was called upon to submit all documents on the basis of which he was issued the Validity Certificate in