The court upheld the cancellation of caste certificates based on a lack of valid documentation supporting claims to Scheduled Tribe status, emphasizing adherence to statutory due process.

ORDER :

Nagesh Bheemapaka, J.

Petitioners question the Proceedings dated 28-05-2025 of the 3^rd respondent cancelling the caste certificates issued by the 5^th respondent in their favour, which were renewed from time to time. Consequently, a direction is sought to set aside the same.

2. On behalf of petitioners, the 1^st petitioner stated that his grandfather, late Chouhan Ganapathi, belonged to ST Lambada community and was married to Subhadra of the same community. Their sons were Chouhan Kishan and Chouhan Sripathi. The 1st petitioner’s father, Chouhan Kishan, belonged to ST Lambada community and resided at Dignur Village, Bazarhathnoor Mandal, Adilabad District. He married Jadhav Harnabai, daughter of late Jadhav Dagudu of Harkapur Village, Indervelly Mandal, also of the ST Lambada community. The said couple had seven children — Chouhan Devanand, Chouhan Shyamanand, Chouhan Jamunabai, Chouhan Sadanand, Chouhan Gajananand, Chouhan Namachand, and Chouhan Vijay.

2.1. The 1st petitioner resides at Itchoda Village and Mandal, Adilabad District and has two wives: (1) Jadhav Godavari, daughter of Jadhav Sampathi of Mediguda Village, belonging to the ST Lambada community, with whom he has five children including petitioners 2, 3 and 7, and (2) Pawar Saya Bai, daughter of Pawar Narayana of Sathnala Village, Jainath Mandal, also belonging to the ST Lambada community, with whom he has three children — petitioners 4, 5, and 6.

2.2. It is stated, the 1^st petitioner’s maternal grandfather, Jadhav Dagudu, belonged to ST Lambada community of Harkapur Village, Indervelly Mandal. His maternal uncle, Jadhav Hari Chand of the same community, married Ranibai of Sambajiguda, Jainur, Adilabad District, and their son, Jadhav Prakash, resides in Mumbai, being a native of Sambajiguda, Jainur, Asifabad District.

2.3. While so, it is stated, the 1^st petitioner contested the Local Body Elections for MPTC, elected from Itchoda Mandal, and served as Vice-MPP from 2013 to 2018 in a seat reserved for ST. The 2nd petitioner was elected as Sarpanch of Itchoda Gram Panchayat for 2007–2012, and the 4^th petitioner was elected as Sarpanch of the same Panchayat for the periods 2013–2018 and 2019–2024 in a seat reserved for ST. It is asserted that all the petitioners are cultivating their agricultural lands situated at Itchoda Village and earning their livelihood while rendering public service as Sarpanch and MPTC without any interruption or allegations from any corner.

2.4. Whenever the 1^st petitioner approached the All India Banjara Seva Sangh, Adilabad District for issuance of a community certificate for obtaining caste certificates from the Tahsildar, the organization issued such certificates recognizing him and his family as belonging to ST Lambada community. While so, in 2007, one Sri Kotnak Sathpath Rao, President of District Raj Gond Seva Samithi, Adilabad District, made a complaint dated 10-04-2007 before the official respondents requesting cancellation of caste certificate of the 2nd petitioner. Upon consideration of the records, the 5th respondent submitted a report to the 4^th respondent stating that the complaint lodged by Sri Sathpath Rao was untenable. This clearly indicates that the said complaint was politically-motivated and lodged out of grudge. Subsequently, the 6^th respondent, who is the President of All India Banjara Seva Sangh, Adilabad District made another complaint alleging that they obtained false caste certificates and availed benefits of MPTC and Sarpanch positions at Itchoda. Based on this complaint, notices were issued to the 1^st petitioner, who submitted explanation before the respondents. Without considering the same properly