Bombay High Court Quashes Caste Scrutiny Decision: Validity Certificate Granted
The Bombay High Court's Nagpur Bench invalidates a re-enquiry by the Scheduled Tribe Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee, affirming Ankita's 'Mana' Scheduled Tribe claim.
News Report:
Nagpur, September 16, 2025 - In a significant decision, the Bombay High Court's Nagpur Bench, comprised of Justices M.S. Jawalkar and Raj D. Wakode, quashed an order by the Scheduled Tribe Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee, Amravati, which had previously invalidated Ankita's caste claim as 'Mana' Scheduled Tribe. The court directed the Committee to issue a validity certificate within four weeks, establishing her rightful status as a 'Mana' Scheduled Tribe member.
Ankita had initially presented her caste claim to the Scrutiny Committee along with pre-constitutional documents, including extracts from registers dating back to 1929 and birth records from 1925 and 1927. Despite these documents strongly supporting her claim, the Scrutiny Committee had dismissed them based on a second vigilance report, which lacked valid reasoning and contradicted the findings of the first report.
The judgment emphasized the importance of pre-independence documents, asserting that they hold higher probative value in verifying caste claims. The court criticized the Committee's decision to conduct a second vigilance enquiry without sufficient grounds, highlighting that such actions violate Rule 12(2) of the Scheduled Tribe Caste Certificate Scrutiny Rules, 2003, which mandates recording reasons before referring cases for re-enquiry.
The court reiterated the principle set by the Supreme Court in the case of "Maharashtra Adiwasi Thakur Jamat Swarakshan Samiti v. State of Maharashtra," stating that an affinity test cannot be solely relied upon to determine the correctness of a caste claim. The judgment underscored that while affinity tests can corroborate documentary evidence, they should not be the sole criterion for rejecting a claim.
Ankita's case, backed by multiple pre-constitutional documents showing her forefathers identified as 'Mana,' was deemed unjustly discarded by the Scrutiny Committee based on a single adverse document from 1921, which the court found inconsistent upon review.
Legal experts hailed the decision as a victory for justice, noting that it reinforces the importance of thorough examination of historical documents in caste verification processes, ensuring that individuals are not wrongfully denied their rightful status due to arbitrary administrative actions.
The judgment sets a precedent for similar cases, highlighting the need for vigilance and adherence to established legal frameworks by scrutiny committees when handling sensitive caste verification processes. Ankita's legal representative, Ms. Preeti Rane, expressed satisfaction with the judgment, stating that it restores faith in the legal system's ability to uphold the rights of individuals belonging to historically marginalized communities.
The Scheduled Tribe Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee, Amravati, has been directed to comply with the court's order and issue the validity certificate to Ankita within the stipulated timeframe, concluding a protracted legal battle for her recognition as a 'Mana' Scheduled Tribe member.
Ankita v. Vice-Chairman/Member Secretary, (Bombay)(DB)(Nagpur Bench) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2780051
