The court clarified the procedural requirements for issuing Scheduled Tribe Community Certificates, reinforcing the importance of proper inquiries and adherence to prior directives.

(Order of the Court was made by N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.

The petitioners have filed the present Writ Petitions seeking a direction to the third respondent to issue Scheduled Tribe – Hindu Kattunayakan Community Certificates to the petitioners’ daughters and sons respectively, in the light of the Anthropology Report in proceedings dated

19.08.2025.

2.According to the petitioners, they belong to the Hindu Kattunayakan Community, which falls under the category of Scheduled Tribe. The petitioners have been residing permanently in Sivagangai District and also in other Districts such as Madurai, Virudhunagar, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore, Theni and Dindigul. These migrations occurred mainly through marriages, wherein women from their area married into families residing in the above-mentioned Districts. It is further stated that members of their community marry within their sub-clans and community groups in accordance with their respective lineage.

3.Earlier, when the petitioners applied for ST – Hindu Kattunayakan Community Certificates, they were compelled to obtain Thottiyanayakkar Community Certificates, which are classified under the Most Backward Class (MBC) category. In such circumstances, one V. Kannan filed a Writ Petition in W.P(MD) No.2845 of 2017 seeking a direction to the Revenue Divisional Officer therein to issue Hindu ST Kattunayakan Community Certificates upon surrendering the Thottiyanayakkar Community Certificates. The said Writ Petition was disposed of directing the respondents therein to consider the application. Pursuant to the said direction, the Tribal Welfare Officer, Ooty, submitted a detailed report stating that nearly 175 Hindu ST Kattunayakan Community Certificates were issued by conducting a special camp.

4.Further, according to the petitioners, many of their relatives residing in the Srirangam area of Trichy District were issued ST Kattunayakan Community Certificates in the year 2017. Despite submitting representations from the year 2019 onwards, their applications are still pending, with the online remarks of the third respondent stating that the parents’ community certificates were not enclosed and hence recommending rejection. Citing the very same online remarks, one Susai filed a Writ Petition before this Court in W.P.(MD) No.21875 of 2024 and this Court, by order dated 26.09.2025, allowed the said Writ Petition directing the respondents therein to issue Community Certificates to the petitioner’s children.

5.It is the contention of the petitioners that, in view of the Anthropology Report dated 19.08.2025 and the order passed by this Court in W.P.(MD) No.21875 of 2024 dated 26.09.2025, the third respondent is bound to issue the Community Certificates. Hence, the petitioners have filed the present Writ Petitions.

6.The learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondent, on instructions, submitted that as per G.O.(Ms)No.104, Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare (CV1) Department, dated 21.08.2023, detailed instructions have been issued regarding the procedure for issuance of SC/ST Community Certificates, which reads as follows:

“(1) The application for grant of social status certificate shall be made to the Tahsildars (in case of Scheduled Castes) and Revenue Divisional Officers/ Sub- Collectors/ Assistant Collectors/ Personal Assistant (General) to Collector of Chennai (in case of Scheduled Tribes).

(2) The authority competent to issue the community certificate, on receipt of the application, shall investigate the application in an open and transparent fashion, affording opportunity of hearing.

(3) On receipt of the application from the candidate, the competent Revenue officer authorized for issuing Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Community Certificates shall himself vi