- (1.) The short question which arises for decision in this appeal is whether the State Scrutiny Committee (hereinafter referred to as the "committee") constituted under the West Bengal Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Identification) Act, 1994 (hereinafter referred to as the "Act of 1994") is empowered to enquire into a complaint of illegal cancellation of caste certificate by the certificate issuing authority under section 9(1) of the Act of 1994 and/or to verify the social status of the certificate holder in relation thereto.
(2.) Factual matrix giving rise to the aforesaid question is as follows :-
(3.) One Ramnanda Baraik, since deceased, the father of respondent nos. 14 to 17 herein, had sold the property in question to one Sanjoy Gupta in 1983. The said Ramnanda Baraik died in 1991. Thereafter, respondent no. 14 made application for grant of caste certificate under section 5 of the Act of 1994 declaring himself as a member of a scheduled tribe community, namely 'Chick Baaik'. After enquiry, Sub-Divisional Officer, Siliguri, that is, the certificate issuing authority under the Act of 1994, issued tribal certificate in favour of respondent no. 14 on 23.04.1993.;