JUDGMENT :

S.G. Chapalgaonkar, J.

1. Rule, Rule made returnable forthwith. Heard finally by consent of parties.

The petitioners have approached this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, impugning the order dated 13.9.2023 passed by the respondent no.2-Caste Scrutiny Committee, Dhule, by which the validity certificate granted in favour of the petitioners have been canceled and their caste claim for “Thakur Scheduled Tribe” has been declared as invalid and further directions are given to initiate action against petitioner no.1 under the provisions of section 10 and 11 of the Act of 2000. Further, directions are given to deposit caste certificate and caste validity certificates dated 12.1.2001 and 9.6.2000 with the Committee within a period of eight days.

2. The petitioners contend that they are belonging to “Thakur Scheduled Tribe.” Consequently, the caste claim of petitioner no.1 was submitted for verification with the Committee. The Committee vide order dated 12.1.2001 validated caste claim of the petitioner and issued certificate no.DD/TCSC/NSK/DHU-SERV-467-97. Similarly, caste claim of the petitioner no.2 had been validated by the Committee and validity certificate n