Court directs expeditious disposal of appeal on Scheduled Tribe status recognition within 12 weeks.

2. This writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeks a direction to the first respondent to pass an order in the appeal preferred by the petitioner and others against the proceedings of the fourth respondent dated 24.5.2024.

3. The grievance of the petitioner is that he belongs to Kaatunayakan Scheduled Tribe community and he made a representation to the fourth respondent to recognize their communal status, for which a request was also made to the Tribal Research Centre by the fourth respondent to enquire the communal status of the petitioner and his people. Upon enquiry, a report dated 18.10.2022 was issued by the third respondent identifying the petitioner and 30 others as eligible for Scheduled Tribe status. Despite the same, the fourth respondent, vide order dated 24.5.2024, rejected the claim of the petitioner. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioner has filed an appeal before the first respondent on 7.8.2024. Till date, the first respondent has not passed any order on the said appeal. Hence, the petitioner has filed the present writ petition.

4. Today when the writ petition is taken up for hearing, learned Government Advocate, on instructions, submitted that the appeal filed by the petitioner will be decided by the first respondent within a period of twelve weeks.

5. Recording the submission made by learned Government Advocate, the writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the first respondent to decide the appeal filed the petitioner and others against the proceedings of the fourth respondent dated 24.5.2024 within a period of twelve weeks from the date of a receipt of a copy of this order and thereafter communicate the decision thereon to the petitioner. There shall be no order as to costs.