LexDraft · Judgments

Kum. Madhuri Patil and Anr. v. Addl. Commissioner, Tribal Development, Thane and Ors.

Supreme Court of India · 1997 INSC 444 · 1997

Coram: K. RAMASWAMY, D.P. WADHWA

Source: sci_open_data

G This application has been filed to recall the judgment giving various directions; and to substitute in their place the directions sought for in the prayer clause of the application. As regards the first prayer to recall the Order dated September 2, 1994 with regard to the grant of the caste certificates, we do not think that H it is advisable to recall the order for the reason that this Court had 1056 MADHURI PAT!Lv. ADDL COMMR, TRIBAL DEVELOPMENT, THANE1057 deliberated upon the issue and entrusted the power to issue certificates of A social status- to a higher officer, namely, Sub-Divisional Officer, who is expected to objectively go into the question and grant or refuse to grant social status certificates. Accordingly, we reject prayer (a). As regards prayer (b) read with direction No. (iv) of the Order of this Court, we too appreciate the inconvenience caused due to vast area of B the State. Therefore, instead of one committee of three officers, there will be three Scheduled Tribe Caste Scrutiny Committees comprising of five members with quorum of three members, as suggested in paragraph 4 of the direction, to take a decision. At Pune, Nasik and Nagpur, Six Caste Scrutiny Committees for SCs., Denotified Tribes, Nomadic Tribes, Other C Backward Classes and the Special Backward Category in existence at Mumbai, Pune Nasik, Aurangabad, Amravati and Nagpur would continue to scrutinise the certificates issued by the respective officers and take decision in that behalf. In this regard, it is also suggested by Shri Dholakia, learned senior counsel for the applicant that in case any certificate has been wrongfully refused by the certificate issuing authority, the aforestated D Committees also would go into the question and decide in that behalf, whether refusal was wrongful and in case it finds that the refusal was wrongful, they are at liberty to direct the authority to grant the certificate. With regard to prayer ( c) also, we feel that the Caste Scrutiny E Committees for Social Welfare, Cultural Affairs and Sports Department should comprise of Additional Commissioner (Revenue) - Chairman of the concerned Revenue Division; Divisional Social Welfare Officer-Member; and Research Officer as a Welfare Officer-Member-Secretary to function in that behalf. With regard to prayer ( d), along with the Vigilance Cell, one Re­ search Officer(fribunal Development or Social Welfare Officer would be associated in finding the social status of eligibility of the officers. The Application is accordingly ordered. No costs. R.P. Petitiun disposed of.