The court upheld the cancellation of Caste Certificates for lack of evidence supporting ST-Lambada status and confirmed adherence to principles of natural justice during proceedings.

JUDGMENT :

Moushumi Bhattacharya, J.

1. The Writ Appeal arises out of an order dated 29.10.2025 passed by a learned Single Judge of this Court dismissing the Writ Petition No.16607 of 2025 filed by the appellants herein and directing the District Legal Scrutiny Committee (DLSC), Adilabad to verify the social status of the appellant Nos.2 to 7 in accordance with law while ensuring due compliance with procedural safeguards.

2. The appellant Nos.1 to 7 i.e., the writ petitioners before the learned Single Judge prayed for a writ of Mandamus declaring the proceedings culminating in the order dated 28.05.2025 issued by the District Collector, Adilabad District, cancelling the Caste Certificates issued by the Tahsildar, Itchoda Mandal, Adilabad, in favour of the appellants as illegal and arbitrary.

3. By the impugned order, the learned Single Judge held that the appellants had failed to produce evidence of ST-Lambada status prior to 1950 and the DLSC correctly concluded that the Caste Certificates issued to the appellants were false. The learned Single Judge further held that the appellants’ claim of belonging to the ST-Lambada community was primarily based on ancestral assertions, previous certificates, and purported letters from the All India Banjara Seva Sangh (‘AIBSS’) which were fabricated documents. It was also observed that the appellants’ allegations of mala fide action, Political interference and violation of the principles of natural justice were unsubstantiated and that the appellants had also failed to demonstrate any legal or factual infirmity, arbitrariness or a violation of the principles of natural justice in the order dated 28.05.2025. The learned Single Judge accordingly dismissed the Writ Petition while granting liberty to the DLSC, Adilabad, to verify the social status of the appellant Nos.2 – 7 in accordance with law and upon due compliance with procedural safeguards.

4. We have considered the submissions made by learned counsel appearing for the appellants/writ petitioners and the learned Government Pleader for Social Welfare appearing for the respondent Nos.1-5.

5. According to counsel appearing for the appellants, the appellants belong to the ST-Lambada community and are residing in Adilabad District. The appellants claim that the appellant/writ petitioner No.1 has two wives and that both his wives also belong to the ST-Lambada Community. The five children of the appellant No.1 and his first wife as well as the three children of the appellant No.1 and his second wife, also belong to the same community and all the appellants are presently residing at Harkapur Village, Adilabad District. The appellants claim that they are earning their livelihood by cultivating agricultural land at Itchoda Village, Adilabad District and they have also served as the Sarpanch and MPTC in that area. The appellants also claim that their Caste Certificates were renewed from time to time by the Tahsildar in recognition of the appellants belonging to the ST-Lambada community, on the basis of the certificates issued by the AIBSS, Adilabad.

6. The Writ Affidavit states that pursuant to a Complaint made by the respondent No.6 (President of AIBSS, Adilabad District) with regard to the Caste Certificates obtained by the appellants being false, the official respondents issued proceedings which culminated in the order dated 28.05.202