IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY, NAGPUR BENCH
M.S.JAWALKAR, NANDESH S.DESHPANDE
Stavan Wilson Sathe – Appellant
Versus
State of Maharashtra, Through its Secretary, Department of Tribal Welfare and Development – Respondent
JUDGMENT :
M. S. JAWALKAR, J.
1. Heard. Rule. Rule is made returnable forthwith. Matter is taken up for final hearing at the stage of admission by consent and request of the parties.
2. The Petitioner by this petition is challenging the order dated 27/09/2023, passed by the Respondent No. 2 District Caste Certificate Verification Committee, Akola thereby invalidating the caste claim of the Petitioner to the ‘Mang’ which is recognized as Scheduled Caste, without considering the documentary evidence produced by him in support of his claim.
3. It is contended by the Petitioner that he belongs to “Mang” which is recognized as Scheduled Caste in the State of Maharashtra and at Serial No.46 in the List of Scheduled Caste for the State. The Petitioner has submitted a proposal for validation of caste claim through the Principal of Rajashri Shahu College, Paradhi, Tq. Bhokardhan, District Jalna, along with document i.e. School Leaving Certificate issued by Headmaster of Akola Municipal Corporation Primary School No.4, Akola to great grandfather of the Petitioner namely ‘Ganpat Bhika’ dated 10/08/1932. The Petitioner has also placed on record School Leaving Certificate issued by Headmaster of Ak

The presence of pre-constitutional documents is critical in validating caste claims, and assumptions based on circumstantial evidence, such as religious symbols, cannot override established documenta....
The court emphasized that pre-Constitutional documents are of higher probative value for determining tribe claims, and invalidation by the committee on the basis of affinity test was not legally soun....
Caste Certificate – Invalidation of - Affinity test may not be regarded as a litmus test for establishing link of applicant with a Scheduled – Tribe.
Invalidating the caste claim - affinity test may not be regarded as a litmus test for establishing the link of the applicant with a Scheduled Tribe.
The central legal point established in the judgment is that a person with a case based on falsehood has no right to approach the Court, and knowingly producing fabricated and fraudulent documents to ....
The court emphasized the need for concrete evidence and vigilance inquiry before rejecting a caste claim based on a blood relative's validity certificate.
The Court emphasized the importance of considering close relatives' validity certificates and the provisions of the Maharashtra Scheduled Castes, De-notified Tribes (Vimukta Jatis), Nomadic Tribes, O....
The petitioner failed to prove his claim to the 'Mana' Scheduled Tribe, as older documents indicating 'Mani' had greater probative value, and he tampered with evidence.
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