Bombay High Court
Sau. Sunita Ramdas Athawale (Maiden ... vs State Of Maharashtra, Through Its ... on 16 July, 2018
Author: B.P. Dharmadhikari
Bench: B.P. Dharmadhikari
Judgment wp3588.18
1
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY :
NAGPUR BENCH : NAGPUR.
WRIT PETITION NO. 3588, 3587, 3627, 3628, 3700, 3701, 3817
AND 3854 OF 2018.
*******
WRIT PETITION NO. 3588 OF 2018.
Suresh s/o Sukhdeo Wankhede,
Aged about 44 years, Occu. - Agriculturalist,
R/o Unkhed, Tq. Murtizapur,
District : Akola. ... PETITIONER.
VERSUS
1. District Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee No.2, Akola,
Through Its Member / Secretary.
2. The Collector, Akola.
3. The Tahsildar, Murtizapur, District Akola.
4. The Secretary,
Grampanchayat, Rambhapur,
Tah. Murtizpur & District : Akola. ... RESPONDENTS
.
---------------------------------
Shri S.D. Chopde, Advocate for Petitioner.
Mr. N.R. Patil / Ms. N.P.Mehta, A.G.P. for Respondent Nos. 1 to 3.
----------------------------------
*********
::: Uploaded on - 18/07/2018 ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2018 01:21:56 :::
Judgment wp3588.18
2
WRIT PETITION NO. 3587 OF 2018.
Ku. Indira d/o Niranjan Surwade,
(After Marriage Sau. Indira W/o Abhimanyu Ambhore)
Aged about 46 years, Occu. - Agriculturalist,
R/o Sukali, Post - Vivara,
Tah. Partur, District : Akola. ... PETITIONER.
VERSUS
1. District Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee No.2, Akola,
Through Its Member / Secretary.
2. The Collector, Akola.
3. The Tahsildar, Patur, District Akola.
4. The Secretary,
Grampanchayat, Sukali,
Tah. Patur & District : Akola. ... RESPONDENTS
.
---------------------------------
Shri S.D. Chopde, Advocate for Petitioner.
Mr. N.R. Patil / Ms. N.P.Mehta, A.G.P. for Respondent Nos. 1 to 3.
----------------------------------
WITH
WRIT PETITION NO. 3627 OF 2018.
Roshan s/o Devidas Wankhade
Aged about 26 years, Occu. - Agriculturalist,,
R/o Datavi, Post - Mangrul Kambe,
Tah. Murtizapur, District : Akola. ... PETITIONER.
VERSUS
::: Uploaded on - 18/07/2018 ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2018 01:21:56 :::
Judgment wp3588.18
3
1. District Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee No.2, Akola,
Through Its Member / Secretary.
2. The Collector, Akola.
3. The Tahsildar, Murtizapur District Akola.
4. The Secretary,
Grampanchayat, Datavi,
Tah. Murtizapur & District : Akola. ... RESPONDENTS
.
---------------------------------
Shri S.D. Chopde, Advocate for Petitioner.
Mr. N.R. Patil / Ms. N.P.Mehta, A.G.P. for Respondent Nos. 1 to 3.
----------------------------------
WITH
WRIT PETITION NO. 3628 OF 2018.
Vaishali d/o Bapurao Abgad,
(Sau. Vaishali w/o Vikas Sadashiv after marriage)
Aged about 23 years, Occu. - Household,
R/o At Post Deoli,
Tah. & District : Akola. ... PETITIONER.
VERSUS
1. District Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee No.2, Akola,
Through Its Member / Secretary.
2. The Collector, Akola.
3. The Tahsildar, Akola.
4. The Secretary,
::: Uploaded on - 18/07/2018 ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2018 01:21:56 :::
Judgment wp3588.18
4
Grampanchayat, Deoli,
Tah. & District : Akola. ... RESPONDENTS
.
---------------------------------
Shri S.D. Chopde, Advocate for Petitioner.
Mr. N.R. Patil / Ms. N.P.Mehta, A.G.P. for Respondent Nos. 1 to 3.
----------------------------------
WITH
WRIT PETITION NO. 3700 OF 2018.
Sau. Sunita Ramdas Athawale
(Maiden name : Ku. Sunita Narayan Sirsat)
Aged about 42 years, Occu. - Agriculture Labour,
Member of Grampanchayat, Rohankhed,
Tq. Akot, Distt. Akola
R/o at Rohankhed, Post : Kutasa,
Tah. Akot, Dist. : Akola. ... PETITIONER.
VERSUS
1. State of Maharashtra, through its Secretary,
Social Welfare Department, Mantralaya,
Madam Cama Road, Mumbai-32..
2. The District Caste Certificate Verification Committee,
through its Member-Secretary, Akola,
Collectorate, Administrative Building,
Second Floor, Akola.
3. The District Collector, Akola Collectorate, Akola.
4. The Tahsildar and Election Officer (Grampanchayat),
Akot, Tq. Akot, Distt. Akola.
5. The Grampanchayat, Rohankhed,
through its Secretary, Tah. Akot,
::: Uploaded on - 18/07/2018 ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2018 01:21:56 :::
Judgment wp3588.18
5
Distt : Akola. ... RESPONDENTS
.
---------------------------------
Shri S.D. Borkute, Advocate for Petitioner.
Mr. N.R. Patil / Ms. N.P.Mehta, A.G.P. for Respondent Nos. 1 to 4.
----------------------------------
WITH
WRIT PETITION NO. 3701 OF 2018.
Mr. Siddharth S/o. Pandhari Wankhade,
Aged about 55 years, Occu. - Agriculturist,
Member of Grampanchayat,Rohankhed,
Tq. Akot, Distt. Akola
R/o at Rohankhed, Post : Kutasa,
Tah. Akot, Dist. : Akola. ... PETITIONER.
VERSUS
1. State of Maharashtra, through its Secretary,
Social Welfare Department, Mantralaya,
Madam Cama Road, Mumbai-32..
2. The District Caste Certificate Verification Committee,
through its Member-Secretary, Akola,
Collectorate, Administrative Building,
Second Floor, Akola.
3. The District Collector, Akola Collectorate, Akola.
4. The Tahsildar and Election Officer (Grampanchayat),
Akot, Tq. Akot, Distt. Akola.
5. The Grampanchayat, Rohankhed,
through its Secretary, Tah. Akot,
Distt : Akola. ... RESPONDENTS
.
::: Uploaded on - 18/07/2018 ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2018 01:21:56 :::
Judgment wp3588.18
6
---------------------------------
Shri S.D. Borkute, Advocate for Petitioner.
Mr. N.R. Patil / Ms. N.P.Mehta, A.G.P. for Respondent Nos. 1 to 4.
----------------------------------
WITH
WRIT PETITION NO. 3817 OF 2018.
Ravindra S/o Namdeo Pandit,
Aged about 42 years, Occu. - Agriculturist,
R/o Dudhlam, Post - Borgaon Khurd,
Tah. & District : Akola. ... PETITIONER.
VERSUS
1. District Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee No.2, Akola,
Through Its Member / Secretary.
2. The Collector, Akola.
3. The Tahsildar, Akola, District Akola.
4. The Secretary,
Grampanchayat, Dhudhlam,
Tah. Akola & District : Akola. ... RESPONDENTS
.
---------------------------------
Shri S.D. Chopde, Advocate for Petitioner.
Mr. N.R. Patil / Ms. N.P.Mehta, A.G.P. for Respondent Nos. 1 to 3.
----------------------------------
WITH
WRIT PETITION NO. 3854 OF 2018.
Dilip s/o Daulatrao Sadanshio
Aged about 55 years, Occu. - Agriculturalist,
::: Uploaded on - 18/07/2018 ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2018 01:21:56 :::
Judgment wp3588.18
7
R/o Khadki Takali, Post Sukoda,
Tah. & District : Akola. ... PETITIONER.
VERSUS
1. District Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee No.2, Akola,
Through Its Member / Secretary.
2. The Collector, Akola.
3. The Tahsildar, Akola, District Akola.
4. The Secretary,
Grampanchayat, Khadki Takali,
Tah. Akola & District : Akola. ... RESPONDENTS
.
---------------------------------
Shri S.D. Chopde, Advocate for Petitioner.
Mr. N.R. Patil / Ms. N.P.Mehta, A.G.P. for Respondent Nos. 1 to 3.
----------------------------------
CORAM : B.P. DHARMADHIKARI
AND Z.A. HAQ, JJ.
DATED : JULY 16, 2018
ORAL JUDGMENT (PER B.P. DHARMADHIKARI, J.) :
We have heard learned respective Counsel for petitioners and learned A.G.Ps., for respondent nos. 1 to 3. Though in few matters, Gram Panchayat concerned has been added as respondent no.4/5, either it is still not served or then though served there is no ::: Uploaded on - 18/07/2018 ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2018 01:21:56 ::: Judgment wp3588.18 8 appearance for it. It is not a necessary party to the present petitions.
2. Considering the nature of controversy and short point involved, which at this stage arises for consideration, with the consent of the parties, we have taken up the matters for final hearing. Rule accordingly issued is made returnable forthwith.
3. It is not in dispute that in all these matters, caste claims need to be verified by adopting the procedure stipulated in the Maharashtra Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, De-notified Tribes (Vimukta Jatis), Nomadic Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Special Backward Category (Regulation of Issuance and Verification of) Caste Certificates Rules, 2012 (hereinafter referred to as "the 2012 Rules" for short).
4. Though in some Writ Petitions, there are individual contentions and various grounds have been urged before us, common ground in all these matters is about violation of procedure stipulated in Rule 17 of the 2012 Rules. Petitioners have relied upon Division Bench judgments reported in 2016 [3] All MR 717 (Lawrence Salvador D'Souza .vrs. The State of Maharashtra and ::: Uploaded on - 18/07/2018 ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2018 01:21:56 ::: Judgment wp3588.18 9 others) and 2015 [5] All MR 563 (Sapremsing Madhavrao Patil .vrs. State of Maharashtra and others), to buttress their submissions. They contend that petitioners were not served with copy of Vigilance Cell Report and none of them has received notice in Form No.25.
5. Learned A.G.Ps., appearing on behalf of respondent State, are relying upon the impugned orders to urge that petitioners were called for hearing and documents available were shown to them. Submission is, thus, in accordance with the principles of natural justice, fairly the decision has been taken. They also submit that there no malafides urged against any Member or the Committee by any of the petitioners.
6. Perusal of the procedure stipulated in Rule 17, shows that as per Sub-rule [6], if after receipt of claim, along with an affidavit, the Committee is satisfied with the genuineness thereof, it has to forthwith issue validity certificate in Form No.20, without any inquiry by the Vigilance Cell. Sub-rule [7], applies when the Scrutiny Committee is not so satisfied. In that event, the caste claim is to be referred to Vigilance Cell for carrying out suitable enquiry as ::: Uploaded on - 18/07/2018 ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2018 01:21:56 ::: Judgment wp3588.18 10 deemed fit. The proviso to sub-rule [7], mandates that findings recorded by the Vigilance Cell is not binding on the Scrutiny Committee at all and the Vigilance inquiry is a sort of internal assistance extended to the Scrutiny Committee in adjudication of the caste claim. Sub-rule [10], then enables the Committee to issue validity certificate in Form No.24, if it is satisfied with the genuineness of the claim, after receipt of the Vigilance Cell report. When it is not so satisfied, it has to proceed further as stipulated in sub-rule [11]. Sub-rule [11][i], lays down that the Committee has to call upon claimant to discharge the burden cast upon it by Section 8 of the Maharashtra Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, De- notified Tribes (Vimukta Jatis), Nomadic Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Special Backward Category (Regulation of Issuance and Verification of) Caste Certificates Act, 2000. (Maharashtra Act No. 23 of 2001) (hereinafter referred to as "Act No.23 of 2001" for short). This is to be done by issuing notice in Form No.25. Form no.25 in turn is important, because the Committee in that Form is required to record its findings on caste claim. Thus, with the findings of the Committee after receipt of Vigilance Cell, when a notice goes to claimant, due to adverse findings of the Committee, ::: Uploaded on - 18/07/2018 ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2018 01:21:56 ::: Judgment wp3588.18 11 the claimant is informed why the Committee is not satisfied with his caste claim, and thereafter, burden shifts to him under Section 8 of the Act No.23 of 2001.
7. None of the orders impugned before us show that this procedure has been followed by the Scrutiny Committee, Akola.
8. In some matters, petitioners claim that Vigilance Cell has not carried out home enquiry at all and petitioners were called to the office of the Scrutiny Committee where the Vigilance Cell Authorities generally put some questions to them. We need not to go into the disputed question of facts at this stage. Apart from above two judgments, this scheme and importance of Rule 17 and Form No.25 is also looked into by this Court in a judgment reported at 2014 [3] Mh.L.J. 73 (Nahidabano Ferozkhan Pathan .vrs. Divisional Commissioner and others) . One of us, B.P. Dharmadhikari, J is party to it.
9. Respective learned A.G.Ps., during arguments invited our attention to the state of affairs. According to them, petitioners were expected to lend assistance to the Scrutiny Committee by giving ::: Uploaded on - 18/07/2018 ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2018 01:21:56 ::: Judgment wp3588.18 12 complete family tree. Very cryptic information has been given and on that basis, the Committee has adjudicated upon the claim. We find substance in this submission, because before us there is an effort by some of the petitioners to add to family tree to demonstrate how the finding of relationship is bad in law.
10. It appears that when petitioners approached for verification of caste claim, in printed format of affidavit, there is a space for mentioning Family Tree, and everybody has given bare minimum details or then person who has obtained the affidavit, has collected only such details. This tree therefore, shows only one line of the descent from grand-father to father to petitioner.
11. Petitioners before this Court have only caste certificate and as per law have been permitted to contest elections. They have been elected. Law also permitted them to submit validity within 6 months and accordingly their caste claim have been verified. A concession therefore, has been shown to petitioners by enabling them to contest the election only on the basis of caste certificate, after submitting an undertaking. In such litigation or rounds of litigations, petitioners would continue to discharge obligations of ::: Uploaded on - 18/07/2018 ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2018 01:21:56 ::: Judgment wp3588.18 13 their office. If ultimately their caste claim is invalided, it may constitute a fraud on democracy itself.
12. In this situation, as we find the approach of the Scrutiny Committee in all these matters laconic, in breach of 2012 Rules, and unsustainable, we quash and set aside the impugned orders passed by the Scrutiny Committee on 27.02.2018, 21.03.2018, 20.02.2018, 22.03.2018, 17.02.2018, 21.02.2018, 01.06.2018 and 23.05.2018. The matters are placed back before the Scrutiny Committee, Akola for taking fresh decision asper law.
13. We direct petitioners to appear before the Scrutiny Committee on 8th August, 2018 during working hours. On that day, petitioners shall file an affidavit about complete family tree and also disclose validities or invalidities in the family. If any caste claims are already pending before the Scrutiny Committee, or then in further challenge before any Court of law, details thereof shall also be furnished in that affidavit.
14. On that date, the Scrutiny Committee shall hand over copy of the vigilance cell report along with notice in Form No.25 to ::: Uploaded on - 18/07/2018 ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2018 01:21:56 ::: Judgment wp3588.18 14 the respective petitioner. The Scrutiny Committee shall also give petitioners next date of appearance and hearing, if it finds further vigilance enquiry into his matter unnecessary. Otherwise, it shall proceed further as per Rule 17 again.
15. Effort shall be made by the Scrutiny Committee to complete the verification as per the provisions contained in Act No.23 of 2001 read with 2012 Rules, within a period of next 6 months.
16. It is made clear that if the directions given to petitioner [supra], are not complied with on the date of his appearance, stipulated above, he/she shall not be permitted to exercise the right to vote in the meetings of the Gram Panchayat and shall not draw any allowance.
17. With above directions and observations, Writ Petitions are partly allowed and disposed of. Rule is made absolute in the aforesaid terms with no order as to costs.
JUDGE JUDGE
Rgd.
::: Uploaded on - 18/07/2018 ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2018 01:21:56 :::