ORDER

A. Background

1. The Petitioner is before this Court seeking for the following reliefs:

i) Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of certiorari, quashing the order dated 27.02.2024 passed by the Respondent No.1 in No. Pa Va Ka E/Appeal/CR-01/2022-23 produced at Annexure: M and dismiss the appeal filed by the Respondent No.2;

ii) Grant such other relief as this Hon’ble Court deems fit in the facts and circumstances of the case, including an order as to costs, in the interest of justice and equity.

2. The Petitioner belongs to a Scheduled Tribe community - ‘Bedar’ which is classified as a Scheduled Tribe under Article 342 of the Constitution of India in the State of Karnataka.

3. Upon submitting an application, Respondent No. 2 was selected and appointed to the post of ‘Assistant Accounts Officer’ at the ‘Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company Ltd.’ (in short: ‘GESCOM’) under the Schedule Tribe category.

4. In pursuance of relevant provisions and rules under the ‘ Karnataka Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes (Reservation of Appointments, etc.) Act, 1990 , (hereinafter referred to as ‘Act of 1990’), Respondent No. 2 had to produce a caste certificate and