HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NAGESH BHEEMAPAKA WRIT PETITION No. 37078 OF 2024

O R D E R:

Petitioner was appointed as a Craft Teacher in 1994 and is currently working under the 8^th Respondent School. He belongs to ST (Valmiki) community, obtained ST certificate in 1989 and was appointed based on merit. While so, an inquiry has been initiated by the 3rd Respondent - Commissioner and Director of School Education based on a complaint from an outsider. The Assistant Tribal Welfare Officer, Dammapeta was directed to conduct an inquiry into petitioner's social status, as it is alleged that he does not belong to ST community. According to petitioner, similar inquiry was conducted earlier in 2022 vide Proceedings dated 22-06-2022, during which, petitioner produced all the relevant documents and the case was closed confirming his social status as ST.

1.1 It is the case of petitioner, however, the 5^th respondent Collector, Bhadradri-Kothagudem again directed the 7th respondent Deputy Director, Tribal Welfare to conduct an inquiry on the same issue vide Proceedings dated 20-12-2024 and 04-12-2024, impugned in this Writ Petition. Petitioner contends that this action is contrary to Chapter XV of the Issue