JUDGMENT/ORDER

M.S.SONAK, J. - Heard Mr S. Ghate, learned counsel for the Petitioner in Writ Petition No. 322 of 2022, Mr S. D. Khati, learned counsel for the Petitioner in Writ Petition No.63 of 2023, Mr Y. V. Nadkarni with Ms S. Khadilkar for the Mormugao Port Trust Authority (Respondent No.1 in WP No. 322 of 2022 and Respondent No.2 in WP No.63 of 2023 ) and Mr D. Pangam, learned Advocate General with Ms Maria Correia, learned Additional Government Advocate for the Respondent-State in both the petitions.

2. Rule in both the petitions. At the request and with the consent of the learned counsel for the parties rule is made returnable immediately. Even otherwise, these matters were posted for disposal at the admission stage.

3. The Petitioner, based on the caste certificate dtd. 17/12/1980, was appointed as a Clerk at the Mormugao Port Trust ( now Mormugao Port Authority- MPA) effective from 7/10/1982. On 21/8/2009, the MPA requested the Caste Scrutiny Committee constituted in terms of the Hon'ble Supreme Court's decision in Kum. Madhuri Patil and Another Vs Addl. Commissioner, Tribal Development and others, 1994(6) SCC 241' to verify the Petitioner's caste.

4. The Caste Scrutiny Commi