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certificates issued by the 5th respondent in their favour, which were renewed from time to time. Consequently, a direction is sought to set aside the same.

2. On behalf of petitioners, the 1st petitioner stated that his grandfather, late Chouhan Ganapathi, belonged to ST Lambada community and was married to Subhadra of the same community. Their sons were Chouhan Kishan and Chouhan Sripathi. The 1st petitioner's father, Chouhan Kishan, belonged to ST Lambada community and resided at Dignur Village, Bazarhathnoor Mandal, Adilabad District. He married Jadhav Harnabai, daughter of late Jadhav Dagudu of Harkapur Village, Indervelly Mandal, also of the ST Lambada community. The said couple had seven children -- Chouhan Devanand, Chouhan Shyamanand, Chouhan Jamunabai, Chouhan Sadanand, Chouhan Gajananand, Chouhan Namachand, and Chouhan Vijay.

2.1. The 1st petitioner resides at Itchoda Village and Mandal, Adilabad District and has two wives: (1) Jadhav Godavari, daughter of Jadhav Sampathi of Mediguda Village, belonging to the ST Lambada community, with whom he has five children including petitioners 2, 3 and 7, and (2) Pawar Saya Bai, daughter of Pawar Narayana of Sathnala Village, Jainath Mandal, also belonging to the ST Lambada community, with whom he has three children -- petitioners 4, 5, and 6. 2.2. It is stated, the 1st petitioner's maternal grandfather, Jadhav Dagudu, belonged to ST Lambada community of Harkapur Village, Indervelly Mandal. His maternal uncle, Jadhav Hari Chand of the same community, married Ranibai of Sambajiguda, Jainur, Adilabad District, and their son, Jadhav Prakash, resides in Mumbai, being a native of Sambajiguda, Jainur, Asifabad District.

5.2. It is also stated specifically, the 1st petitioner's wife, Chowhan Godavari, does not belong to Lambada/Banjara ST community, and no documentary proof was submitted in this regard. Similarly, Jadhav Harmabai, who married the petitioner's father, also did not belong to Lambada/Banjara ST community and resided at Harkapur Village, Indervelly Mandal. The All India Banjara Seva Sangh (AIBSS) submitted a requisition to the Gram Nayak of Harkapur (V), Indervelly (M), on 06-07-2025, and subsequently, on 10-07-2025, the Gram Nayak, Chauhan Umaji Nayak, along with the Gram Committee, passed a resolution stating that the 1st petitioner's father, grandfather (Jadhav Dagudu), and uncle (Harichand) were residents of Harkapur but did not belong to ST Lambada community.

5.3. It is acknowledged that the 1st petitioner had two wives, Jadhav Godavari and Pawar Sayabai, and children from each wedlock. It is categorically denied that the wives or their fathers belonged to the ST Lambada community. AIBSS members, Jadhav Ramesh (President) and Rathod Praveen (Secretary) of the Echoda Branch, Adilabad District, conducted an enquiry and submitted requisitions to Gram Patel Madavi Bheemrao, Mediguda (V), Echoda (M), and Gram Patel Pendoor Balu, Kanapa Mediguda, Sathnala (V), Jainath (M), on 05-07- 2025. On 12-07-2025, the respective Gram Committees passed resolutions stating that Jadhav Godavari and her father, Sampath, as well as Pawar Sayabai and her father, Narayana, were residents of their respective villages but did not belong to ST Lambada. It was further noted that petitioner Chavan Anil Kumar S/o Chavan Devanand (petitioners 1, 6, 7) submitted an undated DruvikaranaPataramu claiming that AIBSS recognized them as Lambada. The President and Secretary of AIBSS verified and found that the petitioners had fabricated the document, forged the signatures of the AIBSS office-bearers, and a criminal complaint was filed against petitioners 6 and 7. 5.4. It is also stated, petitioners 1, 2 and 4 participated in local elections and held posts based on ST caste certificates; however, these certificates are false. The conduct of petitioners, by suppressing their true caste status (Odd/BC-A/Beldar), deprived genuine tribal candidates of opportunities and benefits. Petitioners fabricated AIBSS letterheads with false content and forged signatures to obtain ST Lambada certificates. Raj Gond Seva Samithi President, Kotnak Sampath Rao submitted a complaint against petitioner No. 1 for being Odd/BC-A (Serial No. 37). The matter remains pending with Respondent No. 3 and District Tribal Welfare, ITDA, Utnoor, Adilabad. Any allegation of inaction by Respondents is ascribed to administrative reasons unknown to the sixth respondent. 5.5. The caste of petitioners was verified by AIBSS complaints, and after proper enquiry by Respondents 4 and 5 and DLSC, Respondent No. 1 correctly cancelled the caste certificates vide Proceedings dated 28-05-2025. During the lifetime of petitioners' ancestors, the issue of Lambada/ST caste did not arise. Petitioner No. 1 created false ST Lambada certificates to gain political advantage in Echoda (M), a ST-reserved area for Sarpanch/MPTC elections. Respondents issued notices and provided an opportunity to respond before cancelling the certificates, upholding principles of natural justice.