Kum. Madhuri Patil & Anr. vs Add1. COMMNR., Tribal Development, Thane & Ors.
- SCC(1997) 5 SCC 437
- Neutral1997 INSC 444
- AIRAIR 1997 SC 2581
- SCR[1997] 3 SCR 1056
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
Where a court has previously delegated authority to issue caste certificates to a higher officer on the basis of deliberation regarding that officer's capacity for objective decision-making, the court will not recall that order merely because the parties seek a different arrangement, as the original delegation remains appropriately calibrated. Where logistical difficulties arise from a single committee having to cover a vast geographical area, the court may modify its directions by establishing multiple committees in different locations with the same composition and jurisdiction, rather than maintaining the original single-committee structure. A caste scrutiny committee tasked with reviewing certificates issued by certificate-issuing authorities may, when examining whether a certificate was wrongfully refused, direct the issuing authority to grant the certificate if it finds the refusal was wrongful.
Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.
Judgment
As delivered
O R D E R This application has been filed to recall the judgment giving various directions; and to substitute in their place the directions sought for in the prayer clause of the application.
As regards the first prayer to recall the order dated September 2, 1994 with regard to the grant of the caste certificates, We do not think that it is advisable to recall the order for the reason that this court had deliberated upon the issue and entrusted the power to issue certificates of social status to a higher officer, namely, sub-Divisional officer, who is expected to objectively go into the question and grant or refuse to grant social status certificates. Accordingly, we reject prayer (a).
As regards prayer (b) read with direction No.(iv) of the order of this court, we too appreciate the inconvenience caused due to vast area of the State. Therefore, instead of one committee of three officers, there will be three scheduled Tribe Caste scrutiny committees comprising of five members with quorum of three members, as suggested in paragraph 4 of the directions, to take a decision. At Pune, Nasik and Nagpur, six caste scrutiny committees for SCs., Denotified Tribes, Nomadic Tribes, other Backward Classes and the special Backward category in existence at Mumbai, Pune, Nasik, Aurangabad, Amravati and Nagpur would continue to scrutinise the certificates issued by the respective officers and take decision in that behalf. In this regard, it is also suggested by Shri Dholakia , learned senior counsel for the applicant that in case any certificate has been wrongfully refused by the certificate issuing authority, the aforestated committees also would go into the question and decide in that behalf, whether refusal was wrongful and in case it finds that the refusal was wrongful and in case it finds that the refusal was wrongful, they are at liberty to direct the authority to grant the certificate.
With regard to prayer (c) also, we feel that the Caste Scrutiny Committees for social welfare, Cultural Affairs and sports Department should comprise of Additional Commissioner (Revenue) -Chairman of the concerned Revenue Division; Divisional social Welfare officer-Member; and Research officer as a Welfare officer-Member; and Research officer as a Welfare officer-Member-Secretary to function in that behalf.
With regard to prayer (d), along with the vigilance cell, one Research Officer/Tribal Development or social Welfare officer would be associated in finding the social status of eligibility of the officers.
The Application is accordingly ordered. No. costs.
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