2026:CGHC:9385 ASHOK SAHU AFR Digitally signed by ASHOK SAHU HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR Date: 2026.02.25 16:20:08 +0530 WPS No. 5370 of 2019 Dr. Rajkumar Gadpayle, S/o. Eak Nath Gadpayle, Aged About 44 Years, Caste Mahar, R/o. MIG 2/226, Hudko Bhilai, Tahsil Durg, District Durg Chhattisgarh. ... Petitioner versus

1 - State Of Chhattisgarh, Through Its Secretary, General Administration Department, Mahanadi Bhawan, Atal Nagar, Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

2 - State Of Chhattisgarh, Through Its Secretary, Department Of Tribal Welfare, Mahanadi Bhawan, Atal Nagar, Raipur Chhattisgarh.

3 - State Of Chhattisgarh, Through Its Secretary, Agriculture Directorate, Vikas Bhawan, Sector 19, Atal Nagar, Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

4 - High Level Certification Scrutiny Committee, Commissioner, Scheduled Tribe And Scheduled Caste Development, Block -4 D, Ground Floor, Indrawati Bhawan, Atal Nagar, Raipur Chhattisgarh.

5 - The Collector Durg, District Durg Chhattisgarh.

6 – Registrar, Chhattisgarh Kamdhenu University Durg, District Durg, Chhattisgarh.

... Respondents For Petitioner : Mr. Love Kumar Ramteke, Advocate For Respondents No.1 to 5 : Mr. Rahul Tamaskar, Govt. Advocate & Mr. Anmol Sharma, Panel Lawyer For Respondent No.6 : Mr. A.S.Kachhawaha, Advocate (Single Bench)

Hon'ble Shri Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal

Order on Board

23.02.2026

1. The short question involved in this petition as to whether the High Power Certification Scrutiny Committee can directly entertain the request/application for enquiry into social status certificate without being referred by the District Level Certificates Verification Committee under Section 6 or by the State Government in view of the provisions contained in Section 7 of the Chhattisgarh Scheduled Casets, Scheduled Tribes & Other Backward Classes (Regulation of Social States Certification) Act, 2013 (for short “the Act of 2013”).

2. The aforesaid question of law arises in the following factual

backdrop :-

(i) The petitioner was issued a caste certificate of caste “Mahar” by the Sub Divisional Officer (Certification) Durg on 30.01.2004 and thereafter on 10.01.2006, he joined government service in the Agriculture (Animal Husbandry) Department, Govt. of Chhattisgarh as Veterinary Doctor/ Assistant Surgeon/ Veterinary Expansion Officer.

(ii) The petitioner is working in the Chhattisgarh Kamdhenu University, Durg and on a complaint being received, the Registrar of the Chhattisgarh Kamdhenu University informed the matter to the Director, Tribal Research & Training Institute, Raipur to verify and enquire about the caste status of the petitioner and thereafter the High Power Caste Certification Scrutiny Committee entertained the complaint and by order dated 29.06.2019, revoked the caste certificate of the petitioner, which was issued on 30.01.2004, resulting into filing of this writ petition.

3. Mr. Love Kumar Ramteke, learned counsel for the petitioner, would submit that the High Power Certification Scrutiny Committee has no power and jurisdiction to entertain the complaint directly, it has power and jurisdiction to verify the social status certificate(s) only when reference is made by District Level Certificates Verification Committee under Section 6 or by the State Government; therefore, the impugned order is liable to be set aside.

4. Mr. Rahul Tamaskar & Mr. A.S.Kachhawaha, learned counsel appearing for the respondents, would support the impugned order and submits that the petition is liable to be dismissed.

5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties, considered their rival submissions made herein-above and went through the records with utmost circumspection.

6. In order to consider the plea raised at the Bar, it would be appropriate to reproduce Sections 6 & 7 of the Act of 2013. Section

6 reads as under:-

“6. District Level Certificates Verification Committee and its powers.- (1) There shall be a District Level Certificates Verification Committee with such composition as may be prescribed for verification of Social Status