SUREKHA DINKAR THAKAR @ SHARADA SUBHASH SHIVANKAR Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard learned counsel for the Petitioner and learned AGP.

(2.) The caste claim of the Petitioner-Surekha Dinkar Thakar alias Sharada Subhash Shivankar has been invalidated by the Scrutiny Committee as belonging to 'Thakar, Scheduled Tribe'. Learned AGP invited our attention to the impugned order. It is submitted by learned AGP that the documents produced on record, especially that of the Petitioner's grandfather and father indicate that they never projected their caste as 'Thakar, Scheduled Tribe'. Our attention is invited to the various entries recorded.

(3.) In our opinion, significant in the present context is the caste validity certificate granted to the first cousin from the paternal side of the Petitioner-Mr. Pramod Sadashiv Thakar. The Scrutiny Committee has in the impugned order referred to the affidavit sworn by Mr. Pramod Sadashiv Thakar dtd. 12/07/2005 wherein it has been stated that the Petitioner is the first cousin from the paternal side of Mr. Pramod Sadashiv Thakar. There is no dispute in the fact that the Petitioner is a close blood relative of Mr. Pramod Sadashiv Thakar. Our attention is then invited to the findings of the Scrutiny Committee as to why the caste validity certificate of Mr. Pramod Sadashiv Thakar was discarded. The Scrutiny Committee observed that the Committee has to deal with each and every case separately on its own merits taking into consideration the entire documentary evidence as well as the vigilance cell report placed on record.