Bombay High Court
RAJIV VITHALRAO PALEKARversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THROUGH ITS SECRETARY AND OTHERS
- Disposal
- DISPOSED OFF
Holding
The petition is dismissed; the cancellation of the petitioner’s Scheduled Tribe certificate stands.
Summary
The petitioner, Rajiv Palekar, challenged the cancellation of his Scheduled Tribe (ST) validity certificate by the Scheduled Tribe Certificate Verification Committee, arguing that the Committee lacked power to review its own earlier order and that his earlier invalidations were suppressed. The petition arose from a series of validity certificates granted to him and his relatives, many of which were later invalidated on grounds of fraud and misrepresentation. The State and the Committee contended that the petitioner had concealed prior invalidations and obtained the certificate by false statements, constituting fraud that vitiates the certificate. The Court examined statutory provisions, prior judgments on fraud and the limits of committee powers, and held that the petitioner's claim was untenable. Consequently, the writ petition was dismissed and the cancellation of the ST certificate upheld.
Issues considered
- The Committee has power to review or recall its own earlier orders.
- Whether the petitioner committed fraud by suppressing earlier invalidations of his ST certificate.
- Whether a certificate obtained by fraud is a nullity under the Maharashtra Caste Certificate Act, 2000.
- Whether the petitioner is entitled to retain benefits of a cancelled ST certificate.
Legislation cited
- Maharashtra Scheduled Castes, Denotified Tribes (Vimukta Jatis), Nomadic Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Special Backward Category (Regulation of Issuance and Verification of) Caste Certificate Act, 2000 — s. 10, 11
Subjects
- Scheduled Tribe certificate
- fraud
- review power
- caste verification committee
- reservation
- appointment
- departmental action
- nullity of order
Judgment
2026:BHC-AUG:40211-DB
(1) WP-5349-2025
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
BENCH AT AURANGABAD
WRIT PETITION NO. 5349 OF 2025
Rajiv s/o. Vithalrao Palekar
Age: 52 years, Occu: Service
R/o. Lecturer Colony, Vasant Nagar,
Dist. Nanded. ...Petitioner
VERSUS
1. The State of Maharashtra
Through it Secretary,
Tribal Development Department,
Mantralaya Mumbai.
2. The Scheduled Tribe Certificate
Verification Committee Kinwat
Head Quarter at Chh. Sambhajinagar,
Through its Dy. Director (R.),
Dist. Chh. Sambhajinagar.
3. The Chief Post Master Generla,
Indian Post, Maharashtra Circle,
2nd Floor, GPO building Mumbai-1.
4. The Post Master General,
Indian Post, Aurangabad Region,
Chavani, Chh. Sambhajinagar
Dist. Chh. Sambhajinagar.
5. The Superintendent of Post,
Post Office Nanded, Dist. Nanded. ...Respondents
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Mr. Sunil M. Vibhute, Advocate for the Petitioner.
Mr. R. S. Wani, AGP for Respondent Nos. 1 and 2/State.
Mr. Ravi R. Bangar, Advocate for Respondent Nos. 3 to 5.
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(2) WP-5349-2025
CORAM : KISHORE C. SANT &
AJIT B. KADETHANKAR, JJ.
RESERVED ON : 18th JULY 2026.
PRONOUNCED ON : 03rd SEPTEMBER 2026.
ORDER :- [PER:- KISHORE C. SANT, J.]
1. Heard Mr. Vibhute, the learned Advocate for the Petitioner,
Mr. Wani, the learned AGP for the Respondent Nos. 1 and 2/State, and
Mr. Bangar, the learned Advocate for Respondent Nos. 3 to 5. The
petition is taken up for final disposal by consent of the parties at the
stage of admission.
2. The present petition arises out of a Judgment and Order dated
04/04/2005 passed by the Respondent No.2/the Scheduled Tribe
Certificate Verification Committee Kinwat, Headquarter at Chh.
Sambhajinagar (hereinafter referred to as the “ Committee”), thereby
cancelling the tribe validity certificate dated 05/03/2007 and tribe
certificate dated 31/07/1987 issued in favour of the petitioner. Further,
action is directed against the petitioner under Sections 10 and 11 of the
Maharashtra Scheduled Castes, Denotified Tribes (Vimukta Jatis),
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Nomadic Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Special Backward Category
(Regulation of Issuance and Verification of) Caste Certificate Act, 2000
(for short “the Act of 2000”) (Maharashtra Act No. 23 of 2001).
3. The facts in short, giving rise to the present petition, are that, the
petitioner claims to be a person belonging to Mannervarlu (27), a
Scheduled Tribe category. On the strength of tribe certificate, he was
appointed to the post of Postal Assistant in Indian Post Department in
the year 1987. Since he was appointed against the post reserved for a
person belonging to the Scheduled Tribe category, Respondent No. 5/the
Superintendent of Post, Nanded, forwarded the tribe claim verification
proposal on 31/01/2006 to Respondent No.2/Committee, Aurangabad.
The tribe claim of the petitioner was validated by the Committee by its
judgment and order dated 05/03/2007. One cousin brother of the
petitioner, namely, Amol Gyanoba Palekar, also obtained a validity
certificate from Nashik Committee on 20/05/1998. Thereafter, the
Aurangabad Committee validated the tribe claims of other cousin
brothers of the petitioner, namely, Gyanoba Palekar, Rajaram Kandhare,
Balaji Palekar, Namdev Kandhare and cousin sister, namely, Anita
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Kandhare. The real brother Sanjay’s claim was also validated on
05/03/2007.
4. One Nishikant Rajaram Kandhare appeared in MHT-CET-2018,
who happens to be a cousin nephew of the petitioner. His claim came to
be invalidated on 09/08/2018. He had filed Writ Petition No.9382 of
2018 in this Court challenging the invalidation of his tribe claim. Vide
order dated 10/08/2018, this Court set aside the invalidation and
directed the Respondent/Committee to issue a tribe validity certificate.
Thereafter, Sartika Balaji Palekar and Sayali Balaji Palekar, the blood
relatives of the petitioner, had also filed validity proceeding. However,
the Respondent/Committee vide judgment and order dated 26/11/2020
invalidated their tribe claims. They filed Writ Petition No.8417 of 2020
before this Court thereby challenging the said invalidation. This Court by
order dated 18/12/2020 directed the Respondent/Committee to issue
validity certificates to Sartika Palekar and Sayali Palekar. However, this
Court in Writ Petition Nos.9382 of 2018 and Writ Petition No.8417 of
2020, respectively, directed the Respondent/Committee to issue validity
certificates in favour of these persons.
(5) WP-5349-2025
5. One niece of the petitioner, namely, Chaitanya Sanjay Palekar, had
submitted a proposal for issuance of validity certificate. In her vigilance
inquiry report, the report was adverse. Relying upon the said Vigilance
Cell report, the Respondent No.2/Committee invalidated the tribe claim
of Chaitanya by judgment and order dated 07/07/2022. She also
challenged the said invalidation by filing Writ Petition No.8531 of 2022
before this Court. The said invalidation was upheld by this Court by
dismissing the writ petition vide judgment and order dated 24/07/2023.
6. In the Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the said Chaitanya, the
Hon’ble Apex Court protected said Chaitanya only on accepting an
undertaking from her father giving up his tribe claim. In that view, the
tribe certificate of father of Chaitanya came to be cancelled. The Hon’ble
Apex Court, in the case of Chaitanya, though protected her MBBS
degree, imposed fine of Rs.5 lakh on the father of Chaitanya. It is
thereafter that the case of the petitioner came to be reopened. The
petitioner appeared and filed the application before the Committee
requesting to keep the proceedings of the petitioner in abeyance till
finalization of SLP (C) No. 15099 of 2024 and other companion matters
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pending before the Hon’ble Apex Court. The challenge is in respect of
the power of the Respondent/Committee to review/recall its orders.
However, the Respondent/Committee proceeded further and by way of
the impugned judgment dated 04/04/2025, cancelled the certificate
granted in favour of the petitioner.
7. Being aggrieved and dissatisfied with the impugned judgment and
order dated 04/04/2025 passed by this Respondent/Committee, the
petitioner approached before this Court challenging the said order by
filing present writ petition.
8. Mr. Vibhute, the learned Advocate for the petitioner, vehemently
argued the petition. He submits that, at the outset, the Committee could
not have reopened the case of the petitioner, as the Committee does not
have the power to review its own judgment. Though this contention was
raised before the Committee, the Committee did not accept the same.
Since the Special Leave Petition (SLP) concerning the issue of power of
the Committee is pending, it was necessary for the Committee not to
proceed with the matter. There are many validity certificates granted in
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the family and those are intact. The Committee still decided the case
after reopening. He relied upon orders passed by this Court in Writ
Petition No. 9382 of 2018 in the case of Nishikant Rajaram Kandhare Vs.
The State of Maharashtra and Anr. and Writ Petition No. 8417 of 2020
in the case of Sartika d/o. Balaji Palekar and Anr. Vs. The State of
Maharashtra and Ors., thereby granting conditional validity to the
petitioners therein.
9. On merits, he submits that the Committee has wrongly inferred
that there is interpolation in the caste column in school record. Though
it was specifically contended that the Committee does not have the
power to review its own judgment/order, the Committee has wrongly
held that there is power to review. He submits that unless the power to
review is specifically conferred upon the Committee, no review is
maintainable. The Committee erred in holding that the petitioner had
obtained the certificate by suppressing the material facts and
misrepresented the Committee. Further, the observation that the bogus
documents were submitted before the Committee is also not correct. His
case needs to be decided on its own merits. In the present case, the cases
(8) WP-5349-2025
of relatives were considered while invalidating the claim of the
petitioner. He thus prays that the petition be allowed by quashing and
setting aside the impugned order. Committee needs to be directed to
issue validity certificate in favour of the petitioner.
10. Mr. Wani, the learned AGP appearing for Respondent/State
vehemently opposed the petition. He submits that the Committee has
rightly invalidated the tribe claim of the petitioner. In exceptional
circumstances, where fraud or misrepresentation is detected, it is open
for the Committee to reopen cases. In the present case, it was observed
that the petitioner had suppressed the fact of invalidation of his own
brother by the Tribe Verification Committee, Pune. The caste claim of the
petitioner himself was invalidated by the Committee at Pune on
26/04/1989. The petitioner had preferred an appeal to the Divisional
Commissioner. The said appeal was also dismissed on 20/06/1991. By
suppressing those facts, the petitioner again submitted a fresh proposal
before the Aurangabad Committee on 21/01/2006, and in that, he
obtained the validity certificate. His brother had also challenged such
invalidation before the Additional Commissioner, Tribal Welfare
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Department, Nashik, and the same was dismissed. Both these facts were
suppressed. In the case of Chaitanya, the invalidation was confirmed by
the Hon’ble Apex Court. He further submits that there is a specific
finding recorded by the Committee that the school records of his cousin
aunt, namely Anita, cousin uncle, Rajaram Kandhare, and another
cousin uncle, namely Sanjeev Palekar, were fabricated. Their caste in the
caste column in school records was initially mentioned as “ मुनुरवार”,
“मुनरवार” and "मेनूरवारलू", respectively; however, the word (लू) was added
subsequently in different ink at one place, and at other places, by
bracketing the word "मुनुरवार" it was as written (मन्नेरवारलू) in red ink.
Those entries are from the years 1972 to 1977.
11. In support of his submissions, he relied upon the following
judgments:
(i) Chairman and Managing Director, Food Corporation
of India and Ors. Vs. Jagdish Balaram Bahira and
Ors.1
(ii) Superintendent of Post Offices and Ors. Vs. R. Valasina
Babu2;
1 (2017) 8 SCC 670
2 (2007) 2 SCC 335
( 10 ) WP-5349-2025
(iii) State of Maharashtra and Ors. Vs. Sanjay K. Nimje3;
(iv) Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority and
Anr. Vs. Karamjit Singh4;
(v) Raju Ramsing Vasave Vs. Mahesh Deorao Bhivapurkar
and Ors.5;
12. He thus submits that no interference is required at the hands of
this Court. He prays for rejection of the writ petition.
13. Learned advocate Mr. Bangar, appearing for Respondent Nos. 3 to
5, also opposed the petition. He submitted that when the claim of the
petitioner is invalidated, no benefit can be extended to the petitioner as
belonging to a person from the Scheduled Tribe category.
14. This Court has gone through the petition papers and also perused
the files of the petitioner and the orders passed by the Committee. This
Court has verified the material documents which were produced by the
petitioner before this Court.
15. In the case of Chaitanya, a niece of the petitioner, the Hon’ble
Apex Court came down very heavily on the conduct of her father,
3 (2007) 14 SCC 481
4 (2019) 16 SCC 782
5 (2008) 9 SCC 54
( 11 ) WP-5349-2025
brother of this petitioner. The Hon’ble Apex Court considered the case of
real brother of the petitioner, namely, Rajiv Palekar, whose invalidation
was suppressed. It was recorded that in Chaitanya’s case false affidavit
was filed stating that there was no invalidation in the family. It was only
on the peculiar facts and circumstances of that case that the Court
granted liberty to the applicant keeping in mind her career. An
undertaking was given by the father of the petitioner therein that
henceforth, no claim or benefit would be sought as belonging to the
Scheduled Tribe. The father was directed to deposit an amount of
Rs.5,00,000/- (Rupees Five lakhs) with the National Defence Fund. The
petition was thus disposed of. It is thus clear that even the Hon’ble Apex
Court recorded that the claim of Rajiv Palekar, the real brother of the
petitioner, was invalidated, and that fact was suppressed; and on such
grounds, further time was sought by others in the family. This was
clearly done by the Hon’ble Apex Court by using power with the Court
under Article 142 of the Constitution of India. What is material is the
fact that the Hon’ble Supreme Court also confirmed the finding of the
Committee and the High Court that a fraud was played in the case of
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real brother of the petitioner and niece.
16. In the case of Raju Ramsing Vasave (supra) and in the case of
Ketaki d/o Bhumayya Muttepod Vs. State of Maharashtra and Anr.
passed by this Court in Writ Petition No.11751 of 2025, observed as
under:
“35. So far as the second principle, noticed by us, is concerned, there
is no dearth of authority. Fraud vitiates all solemn acts. When an order
has been obtained by practising fraud on the court, it would be a
nullity.
36. In Ganpatbhai Mahijibhai Solanki v. State of Gujarat and Ors.
[(2008) 3 SCC 556], this Court held:
“It is now a well settled principle that fraud vitiates all solemn
acts. If an order is obtained by reason of commission of fraud, even
the principles of natural justice are not required to be complied with
for setting aside the same.”
It was further observed:
“In T. Vijendradas and Anr. v. M. Subramanian and Ors., this
Court held;
27. ...When a fraud is practiced on a court, the same is rendered
a nullity. In a case of nullity, even the principles of natural justice
are not required to be complied with. [Kendriya Vidyalaya
Sangathan and Ors. v. Ajay Kumar Das and Ors. & A. Umarani v
Registrar, Cooperative societies and Ors.]
28. Once it is held that by reason of commission of a fraud, a
decree is rendered to be void rendering all subsequent
proceedings taken pursuant thereto also nullity, in our opinion, it
would be wholly inequitable to confer a benefit on a party, who
is a beneficiary thereunder.…”
37. In K.D. Sharma v. Steel Authority of India Ltd. and Ors. [2008
(10) SCALE 227], this Court opined:
( 13 ) WP-5349-2025
“Reference was also made to a recent decision of this Court in
A.V. Papayya Sastry and Ors. v. Govt. of A.P. and Ors. (2007) 4 SCC
221. Considering English and Indian cases, one of us (C.K. Thakker,
J.) stated:
‘22. It is thus settled proposition of law that a judgment
decree or order obtained by playing fraud on the Court,
Tribunal or Authority is a nullity and non est in the eye of law.
Such a judgment, decree or order - by the first Court or by the
final Court - has to be treated as nullity by every Court,
superior or inferior. It can be challenged in any Court, at any
time, in appeal, revision, writ or even in collateral
proceedings.’
The Court defined fraud as an act of deliberate deception with the
design of securing something by taking unfair advantage of another.
In fraud one gains at the loss and cost of another. Even the most
solemn proceedings stand vitiated if they are actuated by fraud. Fraud
is thus an extrinsic collateral act which vitiates all judicial acts,
whether in rem or in personam.”
38. The order dated 11.08.1988, thus, would not operate as a res
judicata so as to disable it from considering the merit of the case of
the respondent No. 1 by the State of Maharashtra or Maharashtra
Pollution Control Board afresh. The decision of the High Court ex facie
is unsustainable.
39. We may at this juncture notice some decisions of this Court
where the question at hand has been discussed. In State of
Maharashtra and Others v. Ravi Prakash Babulalsing Parmar and
Another [(2007) 1 SCC 80], this Court held:
“23. The makers of the Constitution laid emphasis on equality
amongst citizens. The Constitution of India provides for protective
discrimination and reservation so as to enable the disadvantaged
group to come on the same platform as that of the forward
community. If and when a person takes an undue advantage of the
said beneficent provision of the Constitution by obtaining the
benefits of reservation and other benefits provided under the
Presidential Order although he is not entitled thereto, he not only
plays a fraud on the society but in effect and substance plays a fraud
on the Constitution. When, therefore, a certificate is granted to a
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person who is not otherwise entitled thereto, it is entirely incorrect
to contend that the State shall be helpless spectator in the matter.
24. We, with respect, fail to appreciate the approach of the High
Court as it proceeded on the premise that once the surname of the
respondent tallied with the name of the tribe, which finds mention
in one or the other entries of the Schedule appended to the 1976
Order, the same must be treated to be sacrosanct and no enquiry in
relation to the correctness of the said certificate can be gone into by
any committee. The observations and directions of the High Court,
in our considered opinion, were not only contrary to the judgments
of the Court but also fall short of the ground realities.
25. Mr Arvind Savant, the learned Senior Counsel, would place
strong reliance on a decision of this Court in Palghat Jilla Thandan
Samudhaya Samrakshna Samithi and in particular paras 18 and 19
thereof, which read as under: (SCC p.365)
“18. These judgments leave no doubt that the Scheduled
Castes Order has to be applied as it stands and no enquiry
can be held or evidence let in to determine whether or not
some particular community falls within it or outside it. No
action to modify the plain effect of the Scheduled Castes
Order, except as contemplated by Article 341, is valid.
19. The Thandan community in the instant case having been
listed in the Scheduled Castes Order as it now stands, it is not
open to the State Government or, indeed, to this Court
to embark upon an enquiry to determine whether a section of
Ezhavas/Thiyyas which was called Thandan in the Malabar
area of the State was excluded from the benefits of the
Scheduled Castes Order.”
40. In Addl. General Manager – Human Resource, Bharat Heavy
Electricals Ltd. v. Suresh Ramkrishna Burde [(2007) 5 SCC 336] , this
Court held:
“14. In the case in hand the respondent got appointment on 31-
5-1982 on a post, which was reserved for a member of Scheduled
Tribe. On receiving complaints the employer referred the matter to the
District Collector, Nagpur and also to the Scrutiny Committee in
March 1991. The subsequent period has been spent in making enquiry
and in litigation as the respondent filed three writ petitions. In view
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of the principle laid down by this Court we are clearly of the opinion
that his services were rightly terminated by the appellant and the High
Court was in error in directing his reinstatement. The order passed by
the High Court, therefore, has to be set aside.”
41. In State of Maharashtra & Ors. v. Sanjay K. Nimje [2007(2)
SCALE 214], it was held that a person cannot get a benefit to which
he is not otherwise entitled to.”
17. In the case of Apoorva Nichale Vs. DCCS Committee and ors.
reported at 2010 (6) MhLJ 401, relevant paragraph No.7 and 9 which
read as follows:
“7. We thus come to the conclusion that when during the course of
enquiry the candidate submits a caste validity certificate granted
earlier certifying that a blood relation of the candidate belongs to the
same caste as that claimed by the applicant, the committee may grant
such certificate without calling for Vigilance Cell Report. However, if
the committee finds that the earlier caste certificate is tainted by fraud
or is granted without jurisdiction, the Committee may refuse to follow
and may refuse to grant certificate to the applicant before it.”
8. --------
“9. In the present case, we find that the committee has disbelieved the
petitioners case that she belongs to Kanjar Bhat after calling the
school leaving certificate of petitioners father and noticing that the
original caste written on it was Thakur and that was subsequently
changed to Kanjar Bhat. The committee observed that the caste has
been changed without complying with the procedure prescribed by
sections 48(e) and 132(3) of Mumbai Primary Education Act. In fact,
the caste has been changed on the basis of the affidavit. From the
findings of the committee it appears that the committee has observed
that the change of caste has been done illegally. Obviously, the
committee which decided the caste claim of the petitioners sister did
not hold the same view, otherwise it would have refused to grant
validity. In the circumstances, we are of the view that the committee
which has expressed a doubt about the validity of caste claim of the
petitioner and has described it as a mistake in its order, ought not to
have arrived at a different conclusion. The matters pertaining to
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validity of caste have a great impact on the candidate as well as on the
future generations in many matters varying from marriage to
education and enjoyment, and therefore where a committee has given
a finding about the validity of the caste of a candidate another
committee ought not to refuse the same status to a blood relative who
applies. A merely different view on the same facts would not entitle
the committee dealing with the subsequent caste claim to reject it.
There is, however, no doubt as observed by us earlier that if a
committee is of the view that the earlier certificate is obtained by
fraud it would not be bound to follow the earlier caste validity
certificate and is entitled to refuse the caste claim and also in addition
initiate proceedings for cancellation of the earlier order. In this view of
the matter, we are of the view that the petition must succeed. Rule is
made absolute in above terms. The Caste Scrutiny Committee is
directed to furnish the caste validity certificate to the petitioner.”
18. In the case of Dalip Singh Vs. State of Uttar Pradesh (supra)
paragraph 1 reads as under:
“1. For many centuries, Indian society cherished two basic values of
life i.e., `Satya' (truth) and `Ahimsa' (non-violence). Mahavir,
Gautam Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi guided the people to ingrain
these values in their daily life. Truth constituted an integral part of
justice delivery system which was in vogue in pre-independence era
and the people used to feel proud to tell truth in the courts
irrespective of the consequences. However, post-independence
period has seen drastic changes in our value system. The
materialism has over-shadowed the old ethos and the quest for
personal gain has become so intense that those involved in
litigation do not hesitate to take shelter of falsehood,
misrepresentation and suppression of facts in the court
proceedings.”
19. So far as the judgment in the case of Chairman and Managing
Director Food Corporation Of India and Ors. (supra) is concerned, it is
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clear that no person can retain the benefits secured on the basis of a
false claim. Once the certificate is cancelled or invalidated, the person
has to face action under Sections 10 to 11 of the Act, 2000.
20. In the case of Superintendent of Post Offices and Ors. Vs. R.
Valasina Babu, paragraph No.13 and 14 reads as under:
“13. In the aforementioned situation, we see no reason as to why the
inquiry officer or for that matter disciplinary authority could not have
taken into consideration the subsequent event. Moreover, as noticed
hereinbefore, the disciplinary authority had given another
opportunity of hearing and the respondent availed the same. He also
preferred an appeal against the order of the disciplinary authority. In
this view of the matter, the Tribunal as also the High Court, in our
opinion, committed a manifest error of law in allowing the Original
Application filed by the respondent on the premise that the said order
dated 18.11.1990 passed by the Collector should not have been taken
into consideration by the Disciplinary Authority or by the Appellate
Authority.
14. The question in regard to effect of obtaining appointment by
producing false certificate came up for consideration in State of
Maharashtra & Ors. Vs. Ravi Prakash Babulasing Parmar and Anr.,
(2006) 10 SCALE 575, wherein this Court opined that the concerned
authorities would have jurisdiction to go into the said question and
pass an appropriate order. The effect of cancellation of such Caste
Certificate had also been noticed in the light of two Judge Bench
decision of this Court in Bank of India & Anr. Vs. Arinash D.
Mandirkar & Ors., [2005] 7 SCC 690, wherein it was held that if the
employee concerned having played fraud in obtaining an
appointment, he should not be allowed to get the benefits thereof, as
the foundation of appointment collapses.”
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21. In the case of State of Maharashtra and Ors. Vs. Sanjay K. Nimje
(supra), it was held that a person cannot get a benefit to which he is not
otherwise entitled to. Paragraph No.16 reads as under:
“16. The 2000 Act being a legislative Act would prevail over any
Government Resolution. A Government Resolution may be
beneficient in nature but it is well-settled that a benefit under a
Government Resolution cannot be extended to a person who does
not satisfy the conditions precedent thereof. In any event, the effect
of the judgment of this Court as also the provisions of a statute in
the light of the constitutional provisions contained in Article 341
and 342 of the Constitution of India cannot be diluted by reason of
a Government Resolution or otherwise.”
22. In the case of Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority
(supra), it was held that if the appointment itself is illegal, then such
defect goes to the root of the matter. When such a person has absorbed
as a regular employee, he cannot be considered to be an employee and
would not be entitled to any benefits under the regularization given to
the employees of the appellate authority. In that case, the High Court
had protected the services of the employees. It was further held that
when the employee is not a valid employee of the authority and does not
hold a civil post under the State Government, he was merely a daily
wager on the muster rolls of the appellant authority. No departmental
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inquiry is necessary in such cases.
23. In the present case, it is clearly observed in the judgment of the
Committee that initially the petitioner had obtained the caste certificate
on 31/07/1987 from Tahsildar Nanded. The Pune Committee on
26/04/1989 had clearly held the claim to be invalid. Against that, the
petitioner had approached the Additional Commissioner, Tribal Welfare
Department, Nashik. The said appeal also came to be dismissed by
judgment and order dated 19/06/1991. However, he again by
suppressing the earlier invalidation, submitted caste validity proposal on
21/01/2006 and obtained validity certificate. Similar was the fact in the
case of his real brother namely, Sanjay Palekar. Since this fraud was
detected, the case of the petitioner was reopened. His reals brother’s
daughter namely, Chaitanya also suffered invalidation. The said order
attained finality till the Hon’ble Apex Court. The Hon’ble Apex Court has
considered the case of Sanjay as well. It is thus clear that there was a
fraud committed. False affidavit was filed while obtaining the validity
certificate.
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24. In the case of cousin aunt namely, Anita, the caste was written in
the school as “मुनुरवार” subsequently word (लू) is added in different ink so
far as admission dated 14/07/1976 is concerned.
25. In the case of Rajaram Kandhare and Sanjiv Palekar is concerned,
they were admitted to the school where the caste was written as मुन्नरवार
and मुनुरवाड, respectively. Later on, it was bracketed and caste was
written as "मन्नेरवारलू". Thus, this entries were considered by the
Committee. The Court also considered the case of Sartika Balaji Palekar,
wherein the entries of 1951 was considered and the report was given by
the Vigilance Cell Committee wherein the caste of one Laxman,
Tukaram, Vitthal and Gyanoba, who happens to be grand sons of said
Sarthika, were shown as "मुनुरवाड" in the census report. The same was
with one Chandrabai and Nagabai, who were the aunts of her father.
Their caste was also shown as "मुनुरवाड" in 1951 census. The Committee
in the judgment also considered the judgment in the case of Rajesh
Baburao Bone Vs. the State of Maharashtra and Ors.6.
6 SLP(C)/10430/2014
( 21 ) WP-5349-2025
26. In the present case fraud is played by the petitioner as is clear from
record. His niece’s claim is invalidated and that has attained finality till
the Hon’ble Supreme Court.
27. Considering above, this Court finds that no case is made out by the
petitioner calling for interference at the hands of this Court. As stated
above, though it is prayed that the petitioner has rendered long service
in the department and his services be protected. This Court finds that
the said cannot be done in view of judgment in the case of Punjab Urban
Planning and Development Authority (supra). No inquiry was also to be
held to be done when appointment is shown to have been outcome of
fraud.
28. Considering all above, this Court finds that no case is made out to
allow the writ petition. Writ petition stands dismissed and disposed off
accordingly.
[AJIT B. KADETHANKAR, J.] [KISHORE C. SANT, J.]
D.A.ETHAPE
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