IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH AT SHIMLA
Sureshwar Thakur, Chander Bhusan Barowalia, JJ.
State of Himachal Pradesh, Through Secretary Department of Education and Ors. - Petitioners
Versus
Smt. Naveen Kumari Wife of Sh. Ajay Kumar – Respondent
Review Petition No. 47 of 2021
Decided On : 04-09-2021
Constitution of India, 1950 - Articles 340, 341(1) and 342(2) - Representation of the People Act, 1950 - Section 20 - Ordinary resident - Bonafide resident - Parental caste of writ petitioner is “Megh” - She was born in State of Punjab - In State of Punjab, “Megh” caste is notified to be a Scheduled Caste - Writ petitioner after solemnising marriage in Himachal Pradesh, hence migrated to State of H.P., from State of Punjab - Her husband's caste is also “Megh”, and, it is also notified as a scheduled caste, as State of Himachal Pradesh is concerned - Writ petitioner, upon her migration, on her marriage, in Himachal Pradesh, rather becoming barred to avail apposite facility, for all requisite purposes, and, as appertain to “Megh” caste, though also notified, as a scheduled caste in Himachal Pradesh, rather became declared ultra vires, and, also unconstitutional, through, verdict under review – Held, Now intention to reside permanently, is to be inferred from circumstance of a particular caste - Since various states including State of Himachal Pradesh, have framed rules for issuance of a bonafide certificate - A person, who becomes a bonafide resident of Himachal Pradesh, has definitely suffered and has become socially disadvantaged, disadvantages arise from his caste, given his for a minimum period of 15 years, rather being permanently domiciled in H.P - He cannot be considered to be a migratee after 15 years, as, after afore period he becomes entitled, for issuance of a bonafide certificate, as per rules - When a person is issued a bonafide certificate, it means that he is a permanent resident of State, for all intents and purposes as he has intention to live permanently there and he remains no more a migrant - Petitioner after her marriage no more remains a migrant and she for all intents and purposes is now settled in house of her husband - Review petition partly allowed.
JUDGMENT :
Sureshwar Thakur, J.
Through, the extant petition, the verdict made by this Court on 22.02.2021, upon, Civil Writ Petition No. 5951 of 2020, titled as Naveen Kumari vs. State of Himachal Pradesh and others, is attempted to be reviewed.
2. The parental caste of the writ petitioner is “Megh”. She was born in the State of Punjab. In the State of Punjab, “Megh” caste is notified to be a Scheduled Caste. The writ petitioner after solemnising marriage in Himachal Pradesh, hence migrated to the State of H.P., from the State of Punjab. Her husband's caste is also “Megh”, and, it is also notified as a scheduled caste, insofar as the State of Himachal Pradesh is concerned. Consequently, since, the imperative necessity, carried in the latter No. EDN-C-B(15) 10/2012, inasmuch as, the writ petitioner, upon her migration, on her marriage, in Himachal Pradesh, rather becoming barred to avail the apposite facility, for all requisite purposes, and, as appertain to “Megh” caste, though also notified, as a scheduled caste in Himachal Pradesh, rather became declared ultra vires, and, also unconstitutional, through, the verdict under review. However, in view of the verdict made by the Hon'ble Apex Court in Civil Appeal No(s). 4864 of 2021, titled as Pankaj Kumar vs. State of Jharkhand and others, wherein the Hon'ble Apex Court after bearing in mind the verdicts made by the Hon'ble Apex, Court in a case titled as Marri Chandra Shekhar Rao vs. Dean, Seth G.S. Medical College and others, reported in 1990(3) SCC 130, and, also upon its placing reliance, upon, a verdict made in case titled as Action Committee on Issue of Caste Certificate to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the State of Maharashtra and Anr. vs. Union of India and others, reported in 1994(5)SCC 244, besides upon its placing reliance, upon, a verdict of the Hon'ble Apex Court, rendered in a case titled, as Bir Singh vs. Delhi Jal Board and others, reported in 2018(1) SCC 312, rather thereins i.e. Pankaj Kumar's case (supra), the Hon'ble Apex Court in relevant para 41 thereof, para whereof stands extracted hereinafter, has made the following expostulations:-
A reading of the afore extracted paragraph No.41, as, carried in Pankaj Kumar's case (supra), discloses, that therein occur candid echoings, that persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes/OBC of the State, in their respective States of origin, on migrating to another State, voluntarily or involuntarily, will not be entitled to claim benefits of reservation including privileges, and, benefits admissible to the members of the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes/OBC, even though, the caste or tribe, of the same monemclature, is notified in the latter State i.e. migratee State. The afore conclusion has emerged, for ensuring that the expression “in relation to the State” as occurring in Articles 341(1) and 342(2) of the Constitution, is made meaningful, and, also it being not rendered otiose. Therefore, upon, meteing the completest deference to the afore expostulation of law carried, in the above extracted paragraph, as, borne in the verdict rendered by the Hon'ble Apex Court, in Pankaj Kumar's case (supra), hence prima f
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