Ramavatar vs State Of Bihar & Ors
- SCC(1997) 4 SCC 764
- Neutral1997 INSC 381
- AIRAIR 1997 SC 3437
- SCR[1997] 3 SCR 683
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
Where an individual seeks promotion based on Scheduled Tribe status, the Court may require the production of genealogical evidence and family history to verify the genuineness of that status. If the genealogical evidence demonstrates that the claim to Scheduled Tribe status is doubtful or lacks credibility—particularly where no ancestors had obtained such certification and the family origins lie outside the state where the certificate was obtained—the Court may reject the claim to Scheduled Tribe status, leaving the individual to compete as a general candidate.
Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.
Judgment
As delivered
The appellant claims for promotion as Engineer-in-Chief on the basis of a the basis of a Scheduled Tribe Status. In the judgment in Major Yogendra Narain Yadav vs. State of Bihar & Ors., the right of the person has been determined. In this case, the question arises is: whether the appellant really belongs to Scheduled Tribe? With a view to find the genuineness of the status as Scheduled Tribes, we had directed the petitioner to file geneology table of his family history. It is now admitted in his affidavit that the family of the appellant hails from Bilaspur, Madhya Pradesh. He claims that his forefathers had migrated to Bihar and that the appellant had done his eduction there and had obtained the certificate also from the District Magistrate, Patna, Admittedly, none of his forefathers had been granted any such certificate. The family history, as stated in the affidavit indicates as under:
"G E N E O L O G Y Late Chilbili Sah :
Late Chintaman Sah :
Late Hira Sah :
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: : : Late Tulsi Sah Late Janki Sah Late Mahabir Sah
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: : :
Ram Avatar Kaushalya Laxmi Narayan (Son) (Widow) (Son) : : :
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Married with Married with late Married to Bagaha Yashoda Devi Ganga Pd., Patna District Bettiah, Ara District Old District Old Shahabad Motihari District. : : : ------------------------------------- : : : : : Rashmi Bala Ushmi Bala Abhijit : Daughter Daughter Son : : .... All are married ... :
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Shashi Nishi Rishi Pawan Suman Sandhya Pragati Raman Bala Bala Bala Kumar Kumar Gond Kumar Daughter Daughter Daughter Gond Son Daughter Daughter Son married married married son unmarried married married un- to O.P. to to Un- to to Ajay marrie d Gond, Raghunath Birendra married Chapra Kr., Patna Manjhi Sah Jhar- District Patna City Lasia suguda in presently Patna P.S.E. Sabalpur Gopalganj Kurrudeg District District in presently Semdega Jharsuguda in the (Orissa) Ranchi District now Gumla District A reading of this family history indicates that his claim as Scheduled Tribe is not only highly doubtful but beyond comprehension to believe that he eligible for the same. Under the circumstances, we do not find any substance to interfere with the order of the High Court. However, it would be open for the appellant to be entitled to compete as a general candidate.
The appeals are accordingly dismissed but without any order as to costs.
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