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Petitioners in Writ Petitions Nos. 9585 and 9586 of 1983 contend that 'Ambigar' community of Bijapur District of then Greater Bombay State was considered as Scheduled Tribe and caste mentioned in their Secondary School Leaving Certificate is a synonymous term of 'Koli-Dhor' community.
Contention of petitioner in Writ Petition No. 7227 of 1983 is that he belongs to 'Kadu Kuruba' community which is, designated as Scheduled Tribe and he is entitled to the benefit conferred on persons belonging to Scheduled Tribe.

11. Undisputedly, caste to which some of these petitioners belong is not designated either in the Scheduled Castes Order or in the Schedule Tribes Order ; but, what they contend is that the name/s of caste/s to which they belong bears a Synonymous term of caste/s designated either in Scheduled Castes Order or in Scheduled Tribes Order. In this view, they plead that they have not committed any cognizable offence either under I.P.C. or under Protection of Civil Rights Act. Question as to whether they belong to Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe depend upon determination of their social and educational backwardness, race, caste, tribe, customs, manners, traditional occupation, social traits etc., If petitioners belong to caste designated in these orders there cannot be any difficulty to establish that fact. Likewise, if they belong to designated caste bearing synonymous term equally it is open to them to establish the fact that they fulfil tribal characteristics so as to avail of the benefit of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes Order.

"........ the name by which a tribe or sub-tribe is known is not decisive. Even if the tribe or a person is different from the name included in the order issued by President it may be shown that the name included in the order is a general name applicable to sub-tribes."

In Government Order Nor S W L 285 S A D 78 dated 27th March 1980, Government itself has given the equivalent/synonymous names and sub-castes of particular caste after obtaining approval of Central Government.

In Order No. SWL 104 SAD 81, dated 1st September 1981 Government has specified castes treated as Backward Tribes.

From principles enunciated by Supreme Court in cases referred to above and orders for clarifications issued from time to time on this aspect, there may not be insurmountable difficulty to establish their innocence and the caste to which they belong though not expressly mentioned in Schedules, in fact, they belong to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe bearing a synonymous term. Special assignment of the task of ascertaining whether a person belonged to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe so as to avail of the benefits conferred on that class or any fraud is committed is in consonance with the Supreme Court decision in R. Palanimuthu v. Returning Officer, AIR 1984 SC 906 which reads thus :