Holding

Lohars are not Scheduled Tribes; only Parliament can amend the Schedule and the English version of the Schedule is the authoritative text.

Summary

The appellants, two assistant teachers belonging to the Lohar caste, claimed that they were a Scheduled Tribe under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Order, 1950 (as amended in 1976) and sought promotion under the ST quota. They relied on the Hindi version of the Schedule, which listed "Lobar," and on earlier High Court decisions that had held Lohars to be Scheduled Tribes. The State of Bihar contended that only the English version of the Schedule is authoritative, that Lohars are classified as Other Backward Classes (blacksmiths), and that any amendment to the Schedule is a parliamentary function. The Supreme Court examined the constitutional provisions (Arts. 342 and 348) and held that the Parliament alone can add or delete communities from the Schedule and that the English text is the conclusive version. Consequently, the Court declared that Lohars are not Scheduled Tribes and that the Court lacks power to declare them as such. The appeal was dismissed with costs.

Issues considered

Whether the Court can declare the Lohar community as a Scheduled Tribe under the SC/ST Order.
Whether the Hindi version of the Schedule is authoritative over the English version.
Whether the Parliament alone has the power to amend the list of Scheduled Tribes and the Court can substitute or interpret synonyms.
Whether the Lohar community qualifies as a Scheduled Tribe for purposes of reservation and promotion.

Subjects

Scheduled TribesArticle 342Article 348Other Backward ClassesJudicial noticeStatutory interpretationReservationPromotion in public service

Judgment

NITYANAND SHARMA AND ANR. A
v.
... STATE OF BIHAR AND ORS .

FEBRUARY 2, 1996

[K. RAMASWAMY, B.L. HANSARIA AND S.B. MAJMUDAR, JJ.) B

Constitution of India-Article 342(2}-Scheduled Tribes-Lohal'-
Whether a specified Scheduled Tribe-Held, No-They are Blacksmiths.

Article 348(1) (b }-Court to take judicial notice of Acts of Parliament- C
Schedule to be interpreted in the light of English version being an authoritative
text.

Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Order, 1950 as amended by
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Orders (Amendment Act),
1976-Power of court to declare a particular tribe to be Schedule D
Trib~Held, it is for Parliament to amend law and Schedul~ourt is devoid
of such a power.

The appellant in the service of the State of Bihar belonging to Lohar
Caste claimed the status as Scheduled Tribe under the Scheduled Castes
and Schedule Tribes Orders (Amendment Act), 1976 and Scheduled Castes
E
and Scheduled Tribes Order, 1950 and sought promotion on that basis in
the quota reserved for the Scheduled Tribes. The appellants filed Writ
Petition alleging that Lobar community was included in the Schedule
under the Act as reflected in the Hindi version of the order and that this
·Court in Sambhu Nath v. State of Bihar, by Order dated 15.9.1990 had held F
that Lobar community is a Scheduled Tribe under the Act. The petition
was dismissed. Hence this appeal.

The respondent State contended that there was a consistent view of
the State High Court that Lohars are Blacksmiths • Other Backward
Classes in the State of Bihar and they are not Scheduled Tribes, that the G
Act mentions Lohara/Lohra as Scheduled Tribes and Lohars are not
entitled to the status as Scheduled Tribes; that English version relating to
the Schedule for Bihar though correctly reflects these two communities as
Tribes, Hindi version does contain description 'Lobar' hut it is only a
wrong translation and that the court can take judicial notice of English H
1
2 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1996] 2 S.C.R.

A version and have it correctly interpreted by treating Hind version as -.....
incorrect translation.

The question raised for consideration was whether the court can give
declaration of the social status as a Tribe or declare Lohars as Scheduled

-
Tribes in the Act and the Schedule of the Act.
B
Dismissing the appeals, this Court

HELD : 1.1. Article 342(2) of the Constitution of India empowers the
Parliament, by law, to include in or exclude from the list of Schedule Tribes
C specified in a notification issued under clause (1), any tribe or tribal
community or part of or group within any tribe or tribal community, but
save as aforesaid a notification issued under the said clause shall not be
varied by any subsequent notification. In other words, it is the constitu-
tional mandate that the tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups
within such tribes or tribal communities specified by President, after
D consultation with the Governor in the public notification, will be Scheduled
Tribes subject to the law niade by the Parliament alone, which may, by law,
include in or exclude from the list of Scheduled Tribes specified by the
President. Thereafter, it cannot be varied except by Parliament. The
specification is for the purpose of the Constitution. [7-D-E]
E 1.2. Scheduled Tribe specified in the Order is in relation to a State
a
or to District or other territorial division thereof and shall be construed
as a reference to the State, District or other territorial division in that
particular State as constituted on the first day of May 1976. The sub-
stituted schedule in relation to Bihar is contained in Part III. It consists
F of 30 Scheduled Tribes. Item No. 22 specifies (i) Lohara/Lohra. Hindi
version contains in place of Lohara, Lobar. The silibet 'a' is omitted. The
title to the Schedule of Hindi version itself clearly mentions "translated
version". In English version, there is no mention of Lobar and
Lohara/lohra only are the specified Scheduled Tribes. 'Lohra' or 'Loharas'
G are thus different from 'Lobar' in Bihar as 'Lohars', as noticed herein-
before are ranked with 'Koiris' and 'Kurmis' whereas 'Lobar' or 'Loharas'
are merely sub-castes, a sept of Mundas in Chota Nagpur or sub-tribes of
Asurs who are Scheduled Tribes. [7-H, 8-A-B, 9-B]

1.3. It is for the Parliament to amend the law and the Schedule and
-
H include in_ and exclude from the Schedule, a tribe or tribal commu!lity or
NITYANAND SHARMA v. STATE 3

part of or group within any tribe or tribal community for the State, District A
•· or region and its declaration is conclusive. The Court has no power to
declare synonyms as equivalent to the Tribes specified in the Order or
include in or substitute any caste/tribe etc. It would thus be clear that for
the purpose of the Constitution, "Schedule Tribes" defined under Article
366(25) as substituted under the Act, and the Second Schedule thereunder
B
are conclusive. Though evidence may be admissible to a limited extent of
finding out whether the community which claims the status as Scheduled
Caste or Scheduled Tribe, was, in fact, included in the concerned Schedule,
the Court is devoid of power to include in or exclude from or substitute or
declare synonyms to be of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe or parts
thereof or group of such caste or tribe. [11-D-F] c
1.4. In Shambhu Nath v. State of Bihar, this Court did not intend to
,,14 law down any law that Lohars are Scheduled Tribes. Unfortunately due to
concession by the counsel for the Union, without due verification from
English version, this Court accepted Hindi version placed b~fore the Bench
D
and held that they were include as Scheduled Tribes. There was a obvious
mistake in accepting a mistaken fact. Therefore, this Court proceeded on
that mistaken assumption without verification from the Act that Lohars
are included in Part III of Second Schedule relating to the State of Bihar.
As a fact the Bench proceeded on the basis of the concession of the Union
counsel. It proved to be an obvious mistake and as a fact the translated E
,,.. '- Hindi copy was placed before the court and the Court procEeded on that
premise. The case establishes that the Court was misled by incorrect
record. It proves how wrong it would be to proceed on the basis of
statement by counsel who do not take full responsibility to place correct
record, in particular, on constitutional issues. In second Schedule in Part

,
F
III of the Act Lobar was not included as a Scheduled Tribe. It is only, as
evidenced from the translated version, that the community 'Lobar' came
to be wrongly translated for the word ''Lohra" or ''Lohara" and shown to
have been included in the Second Schedule, Part III applicable to Bihar
State. [12-C-H, 13-A]
G
1.5. By operation of sub-article (3) of Article 348 of the Constitution,
r with a non obstante clause, where the Legislature of a State has prescribed
any language other than the English language for use in Bills introduced
in, or Acts passed by, the Legislature of the State or in Ordinances
promulgated by the Governor of the State or in any order, regulation or H
4 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1996] 2 S.C.R.

A bye-law referred to in a paragraph (iii) of that sub-clause, a translation of
the same in the English language published under the authority of the
Governor of the State in the official Gazette of that State shall be deemed
to be the authoritative text thereof in the English Language under this
article. Therefore, the Act and the Schedule thereto are part of the Act, as
B enacted by the Parliament in English language. It is the authoritative test.
When the Schedules were translated into Hindi, the translator wrongly
translated Lohara as Lobar omitting the word 'a' while Lohra is written
as mentioned in English Version. Court would take judicial notice of Acts
of Parliament that would interpret the Schedule in the light of the English
version being an authoritative text of the Act and the Second Schedule.
~ [13-C-F]
1.6. Lohars are Other Backward Class. They are not Scheduled
Tribes and the Court can not give any declaration that Lohars are
equivalent to Loharas or Lohras or that they are entitled to the same
status. Any contrary view taken by any Bench/Benches of Bihar High
D Court, is erroneous. It would appear that except some stray cases, there
is a consistent view of that Court that Lohars are not Scheduled Tribes.
They are Blacksmiths. [13-G]

Bhaiyalal v. Hari Kishan Singh, [1965) 2 SCR 877; B. Basavalingappa
E v. D. Munichinappa, [1965) 1 SCR 316; Dina v. Narayan Singh, (1968) 38
ELR 212; Srish Kumar Chaudhury v. State of Tripura & Ors., [1990) Supp.
SCC 220; Kumari Madhuri Patel & Ors. v. Addi. Commissioner, Tribal
Development & Ors., [1994) 6 SCC 241 and Mrs. Valsama Paul v. Cochin
University & Ors., JT (1996) 1 57, relied on.

p CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 2688 of
1996.

From the Judgment and Order dated 12.8.93 of the Patna High Court
in C.WJ.C. No. 10593of1992.

G Ranjan Dwivedi for the Appellants.

B.B. Singh for the Respondents.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
'
H K. RAMASWAMY, J. Leave granted.
·'

NITYANANDSHARMAv. STATE[K.RAMASWAMY,J.] 5

Short but an important question of constitutional law of the power A
*· of the Court to declare a particular tribe to be Scheduled Tribe under
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Order, 1950 as amended by
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Orders (Amendment Act), 1976
(for short, 'the Act') is the primary question.
B
The appellants, Assistant Teachers in the service of the State of Bihar
belonging to Lohar caste, claimed the status as Scheduled Tribe under the
Act and the order and sought promotion on that basis in the quota
reserved, for the Scheduled Tribes. When the request was not acceded to,
the appellants had filed CWJC No. 10593/92. The High Court by impugned
order dated August 12, 1993, dismissed the same. C

Appellants' case is founded on two-fold basis, firstly, Lohar com-
munity was included in the Schedule under the Act as reflected in the
Hindi version of the order and that thereby they are entitled to be recog-
nised as Scheduled Tribes. Secondly, it is contended that when similar D
claim was relied on by one Shambhu Nath and was rejected by CAT, this
Court in Shambhu Nath v. State of Bihar, C.A. No. 4631 of (1990) by order
dated September 15, 1990 had held that Lohar community is a Scheduled
Tribe under the Act. This was followed in another SLP @ CWJC No. 1034
of 1991 dated September 21, 1992. The Division Bench of the High Court
in the above writ petition held Lohar community as Scheduled Tribe. This E
was upheld by this Court. In the latter case also it had concluded that
Lohar is a Scheduled Tribe community and that, therefore, it is entitled to
the same status. In yet another writ petition CWJC No. 3390/92 by order
dated September 20, 1993, another Division Bench of that High Court also
held that Lohars belong to Scheduled Tribes. It is contended that the F
dismissal of the writ petition by the High Court, therefore, is wrong in law.
The notification in Hindi version must be enforced as their constitutional
right is grossly violated.

When the matter had come up on Monday, the 15th January, 1996
alongwith SLP (c) Nos. 23681-783 of 1995 and another one, the counsel . G
stated that the other case was not pressed and thus was dismissed. In the
r above SLP No. 1569 of 1994, since notice was issued by one of us (Pat-
tanaik, J.) who was a member of the High Court Bench, as the then Chief
Justice of that High Court, the counsel for the respondent sought for
posting of the matter before appropriate Bench and thus the matter was H
'
J,
6 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1996] 2 S.C.R.

A posted before a bench of which Pattanaik, J. was not a member. At the
request of parties this case was posted before the Bench of three Judges.
Thus the matter has come up before us. When the case was called, the
-
·•·
J,
"',
counsel sought permission for withdrawing the S.L.P. and when it was
refused the counsel argued the case. Shri Dwivedi, the learned counsel,
contended, firstly, that when there is a conflict of decisions between two ,,.....
B co-ordinate Division Benches of the High Court, the Division Bench, in ,~

this case, should have referred the cases to a larger Bench and that,
therefore, the decision of the High Court was bad in law. That controversy
may be relevant in that court but as far as this Court is concerned, the case
has to be dealt with on merits. He then contended that Lohars are
c Scheduled Tribes as recognised by other Division Benches of the High
Court and that was approved by this Court in Shambhu Nath's case and
another case. Therefore, Lohars now stand recognised as Scheduled
~. ...
Tribes. The ·Division Bench of the High Court in this case, therefore, was
not right in holding that they are not Scheduled Tribes. He also contended
that when the Hindi version of the Schedule mentions Lohars as Scheduled
D
Tribes, they are entitled to the declaration from the Court and a mandamus
should have been issued to the authorities to consider their status as
Scheduled Tribes for the purpose of promotion as head Masters.

Shri B.B. Singh, learned counsel for the State, resisted the conten- '
ill
E tion. He contended that there is a consistent view of the State High Court
that Lohars are Blacksmiths-Other Backward Classes (for short, 'O.B. Cs.') /

in the State of Bihar. They are not Scheduled Tribes. The Act mentions
Lohara/Lohra as Scheduled Tribes; Lohar is not a Scheduled Tribe, there-
fore, they are not entitled to the status as Scheduled Tribe. In West Bengal,
F the same tribes, i.e., Lohara/Lohra are shown as Scheduled Tribe in the
Schedule under the Act both in English version and Hindi version. English
version relating to the Schedule for Bihar though correctly reflects these
two communities as Tribes, Hindi version does contain description 'Lobar'
but it is only a wrong translation. The Court can take judicial notice of
English Version and have it correctly interpreted by treating Hindi version
G as incorrect translation. Therefore, the High Court rightly did not accept
the status of the appellants as Schedule Tribes.

In view of the respective contentions, the question that arises for
consideration is : whether the Court can 'give declaration of the social status
H as a Tribe or declare Lohars as Scheduled Tribes in the Act and the
-- ~

'

\
/

NITYANANDSHARMAv. STATE[KRAMASWAMY,J.] 7

•· Schedule of the Act? Clause (24) of Article 336 defines "Scheduled Castes" A
~ and clause (25) of Article 366 defines "Scheduled Tribes". The latter means
"such tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within such tribes
or tribal communicates as are deemed under Article 342 to be Scheduled
Tribes for the pwposes of this Constitution" (Emphasis supplied). Article
341(1) empower.s the President, in consultation with the Governor of the
B
concerned State, to specify Scheduled Castes by public notification. Equal-
ly, 342(1) empowers the President "with respect to any State or Union
territory, and where it is a State, after consultation with the Governor
thereof, by public notification to specify the Tribes or Tribal communities
or parts of or groups within tribes or tribal communities which shall for
the purposes of the Constitution be deemed to be Scheduled Tribes in c
relation to that State or Union territory, as the case may be". Article 342(2)
empowers the Parliament, by law, to include in or exclude from the list of
Scheduled Tribes specified in a notification issued under clause (1), any
tribe or tribal community or part of or group within any tribe or tribal
community, but save as aforesaid a notification issued under the said clause n·
shall not be varied by any subsequent notification. In other words, it is the
constitutional mandate that the tribes or tribal communities or parts of or
groups within such tribes or tribal communities specified by the President,
after consultation with the Governor in the public notification, will be
Scheduled Tribes subject to the law made by the Parliament alone, which
may, by law, include in or exclude from the list of Scheduled Tribes E
specified by the President. Thereafter, it cannot be varied except by
Parliament. The specificatfon is for the purpose of the Constitution.

Constitutional rights given in Part III and Part IV of the Constitution
are relating to election to the Parliament or the State Legislature. Section F
2(f) of the Act defines "Scheduled Tribe Order". It means "the Constitution
(Andaman & Nicobar falands) Scheduled Tribe Order, 1959 made by the
President under Article 342 of the Constitution". Section 3 deals with
amendment of the Scheduled Castes Order and Section 4 deals with
amendment of Scheduled Tribe Order. The Scheduled Tribe Orders are
amenaed in the manner and to the extent specified in the Second Schedule. G
First Schedule relates to Scheduled Castes and Second Schedule relates to
Scheduled Tribes.

Scheduled Tribe specified in the Order is in relation to a State or to
a District or other territorial division thereof and shall be construed as a H
8 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1996] 2 S.C.R.

A reference to the State, District or other territorial division in that particular
State as constituted on the first day of May 1976. The substituted schedule
in relation to Bihar is contained in Part III. It consists of 30 Scheduled
Tribes. Item No. 22 specifies (1) Lohara/Lohra. Similarly in relation to
West Bengal in Part XVI Item No. 24 repeats the same tribes, namely, (1)
Lohara/Lohra to be Scheduled Tribes. In Hindi version, as placed before
B us relating to the State of West Bengal, is found the same specification.
But with regard to Bihar State, Hindi version contains in place of Lohara,
Lahar. The silibet 'a' is omitted. The title to the Schedule of Hindi version
itself clearly mentions "translated version". As stated earlier, in English
version, there is no mention of Lahar and Lohara/Lohra only are the
C specified Scheduled Tribes.

In 'Tribes and Castes of Bengal' written by renowned sociologist.
H.S. Hisley in Volume II, is found the description of Lahar as Blacksmith
of Bihar, Chota Nagpur and West Bengal. He mentions therein thus:

D "Lahar, as sub-castes of Barhi in Bihar only work in iron. They are,
however, distinct from, and do not inter marry with the Lohra
caste. The latter are probably Dravidian descent; while former
appear to be an occupational group.

Lahar, a synonym for Kamar in Behar; a mul or section of the
E Naomulia or Majraut sub-caste of Goalas in Behar; a section of
Kamis in Darjeeling."

So far as "Lohars of Behar" are concerned, the author says :

"~n Behar the caste works as Blacksmiths and carpenters while
F many have taken to cultivation. They buy their material in the form
of pigs or bars of iron. Iron smelting is confined to. the Lohars of
Chota Nagpur, and is supposed to be a much less respectable form
of industry than working up iron with other people have smelted.
In the Santhal Parganas Lohars often cultivate themselves while
G the women of the household labour at the ........ :

The other sub-castes of 'Lohra' and Loharas' have been stated by the
author as follows : --
"Lohara, .a sept of Mundas in Chota Nagpur. Lohar-Agaria, a
H sub-tribe of Agarias in Chota Nagpur. Loharatengi, section of
1

NITYANANDSHARMAv. STATE[K.RAMASWAMY,J.] 9

Rajwars in Western, Bengal.- Loharbans, iron a totemistic sept of A
Chicks; a section of Gasis in Chota Nagpur.

Lohra, a synonym of A.sura and Lohar.

Lohra, Asur, a sub-tribe of Asuras in Chota Nagpur."
B
'Lohra' or 'Loharas' are thus different from 'Lohar' in Bihar as
'Lohars' as noticed hereinbefore are ranked with 'Koiris' and 'Kurmis'
whereas 'Lohra' or 'Loharas' are merely sub-castes, a sept of Mundas in
Chota Nagpur or sub-tribes of Asurs who are Scheduled Tribes.

According to Hisley, Lohars are large and heterogeneous aggregate c
comprising members of the several different tribes and castes, who in
different parts of the country took up the profession of working in iron. Of
the various sub-castes ..... the Kanaujia claim to be the highest in rank, and
they alone have a well marked set of exogamous sections. They regard
Vishwani as their legendary ancestors, and worship him as the tuolary deity D
·of their tracts. The Magahaiya seems to be the indigeneous Lohars of
Bihar, or opposed to the Kanaujia and Motiniya, who profess to have come
in turn from the North-West Provinces. The Kamia Lohars found in
Champaran have immigrated from Nepal and are regarded as ceremoni-
cally unclean...... The Manhhum Lohars acknowledge three sub-caste-
Lohar Manjhi, Danda Manjhi and Begdi Lohar, Names which suggest a
E
connection with the Begdi castes. Lastely, in Lohardagga we have the
Sed-Lohars, claiming to be immigrant Hindus; the Manjha Turiyas who
may well be a branch of the Turi caste; and the Munda Lohars who are
certainly Mundas. In Andhra Pradesh, Blacksmiths are known as Kam-
mara, who work on preparing iron articles for agricultural operations and F
Kamsalis prepare gold ornaments. They are O.B.Cs. Their names are
different from region to region. It would thus be clear that Lohars are
Blacksmiths, while Loharas/Lohra are Scheduled Tribes.

The question then is: whether Lohars could be considered by the
Court as synonyms of Loharas or Lohras? This question is no longer res G
integra. In Bhaiyalal v. Hari Kishan Singh, [1965] 2 SCR 877, a Constitution
Bench of this Court had considered in an election petition whether Dadar
caste was a Scheduled Caste. It held that the President in specifying a caste,
race, or tribe has expressly been authorised to limit the notification to parts
of or groups within the caste, race or tribes. It must mean that after H
_\
10 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1996] 2 S.C.R.

A examining the social and educational backwardness of a caste, race or a
tribe, the President may come to the conclusion that not the whole caste,
race or tribe, but parts of or groups within them should be specified as
Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe. The result of the specification is
conclusive. Notification issued under Article 341(1), after an elaborate
enquiry in consultation with the Governor and reaching the conclusion
B
specifying particular caste, race or tribe with reference to different areas
in the State, is conclusive. The same view was reiterated in B. Basavalin-
gappa v. D. Munichinnappa, (1965) 1 SCR 316.

In Dina v. Narayan Singh, (1968) 38 ELR 212, Dina declared in his
C nomination paper, as being a member of Gond (Mana) caste, a Scheduled
Tribe in Godchiroli Taluka of Chand District in Maharashtra State.
Evidence was led to show that he was Maratha Mana. Therefore, he was
not Gond. The Court found that the customs, manners, forms of worship
and dress of the members of Mana community are different from customs,
D manners, forms or worship and dress of Gonds. It was held that Manas are
not Gonds and that, therefore, he was not a Scheduled Tribe under the
Presidential Order entitled to get elected as a member of the Scheduled
Tribes. In Slish Kumar Choudhwy v. State of T1ipura & Ors., (1990) Supp.
SCC 220 a Bench of 3 learned judges was called upon to consider whether
Laskar community in State of Tripura is a Scheduled Tribe. In a repre-
E sentative petition under Article 226, they sought declaration that earlier to -~'

the Act and the Order, they were recognised as Scheduled Tribes by rulers
of Tripura State and that they were Tripura(fripuri!frippera Laskar and
that, therefore, they were entitled to the status as Scheduled Tribes. The
High Court dismissed the writ petition. On appeal, this Court held that
p though evidence may be admissible to verify the entries in the Presidential
Order to find a caste/tribe included in a particular tribe or caste, tribal
communities, the admissibility of the evidence is confined within the limita-
tions enhacted in the order. It is not, however, open to the Court to make
any addition or subtraction from the Presidential Order. Laskars, there-
fore, as a community cannot be included as Scheduled Tribes. In Kumari
G Madhuri Patel & Ors. v. Addi. Commissi01w; Tlibal Development & Ors.,
(1994J 6 SCC 241, a Bench of two Judges, to which one of us (K. Ramas-
wamy, J.) was a member, had to consider whether Kolis, a Backward Class
in Maharashtra would be declared as Mahadeo Koli, a Scheduled Tribe in
Maharashtra. Despite the cultural advancement, the genetic traits pass on
H from generation to generation and no one could escape or forget or get
r
t

NITYANAND SHARMAv. STATE [K. RAMASWAMY, J.] 11

- them over. The tribal customs are peculiar to each tribe or tribal com-
munities and are still being maintained and preserved. Their cultural
A

advancement to some extent may have modernised and progressed but they
would not be oblivious or ignorant of their customary and cultural past to
establish their affinity to the membership of a particular tribe. The tribe or
tribal communities, parts of or groups thereof have their peculiar traits. It B
was further held that Presidential declaration subject to amendment by
Parliament is conclusive. No addition to it by way of declaration of castes,
tribes or sub-caste, parts of or groups of tribes or tribal community is
permissible. After an elaborate survey of the constitutional purpose and
the relative caste structures, customs, marriages etc. it was held that Kolis
are Backward Class and Mahadeo Koli are Scheduled Tribes. The appel- C
lants therein being OBCs were held not entitled to status as Scheduled
Tribes.

It is for the Parliament to amend the law and the Schedule and
include in and exclude from the Schedule, a tribe or tribal community or D
part of or group within any tribe or tribal community for the State, District
or region and its declaration is conclusive. The Court has no power to
declare synonyms as equivalent to the Tribes specified in the Order or
include in or substitute any caste/tribe etc. It would thus be clear that for
the purpose of the Constitution. "Scheduled Tribes" defined under Article
366(25) <is substituted under the Act and the Second Schedule thereunder E
are conclusive. Though evidence may be admissible to a limited extent of
finding out whether the community which claims the status as Scheduled
Caste or Scheduled Tribe, was, in fact, included in the concerned Schedule
the Court is devoid of power to include in or exclude from or substitute or
declare synonyms to be of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe or parts F
thereof or group of such caste or tribe.

In Mrs. Valsamma Paul v. Cochin University & Ors., .TT (1996) 1 SC
57, a Bench to which two of us (K. Ramaswmay and B.L. Hansaria, JJ.)
were members have surveyed the retrograde attempts successively made by G
different communities in the country to wear the mask of status either of
Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes to secure constitutional benefits of
reservations and other economic empowerments, intended for the
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and meant for the latter to accord
to them economic, social and cultural advancement. In Andhra Pradesh
High Court decisions noted in the judgment of the Bench, J angama, H
-·
i-
I

12 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1996) 2 S.C.R.

A backward class sought to be recognised as Scheduled Caste taking the
name as Bedajanagama or Budagajangama, a Scheduled Caste. Equally
-
Holva tried to be Holuva, i.e., from O.B.C. to St. Those attempts were
judicially negated. This case is yet another instance, where Other Backward
Class en mass seaks to get the status of the Scheduled Tribe. It is a
retrograde step to corner the benefits intended for Scheduled Tribes. In
B
Shambhu Nath' case (supra) this Court, therefore, did not intend to lay
down any law that Lohars are Scheduled Tribes. Unfortunately due to
concession by the counsel for the Union, without due verification from
English version, this Court accepted Hindi version placed before the Bench
and held that they were included as Scheduled Tribes. There was an
c obvious mistake in accepting a mistaken fact. Therefore, this Court
proceeded on that mistaken assumption without verification from the Act
that Lohars are included in Part III of Second Schedule relating to the
State of Bihar. Therein this Court stated thus :

"In view of the accepted position that Lobar community is included
D
in the Scheduled Tribe from the date of the amendment of the list ·
in 1976 we do not think that the Tribunal was justified_in holding
the view it has taken."

This Court, therefore, proceeded on the premise as admitted by
E counsel that Lobar was included in the Act as Lohars in the Second_
Schedule as Scheduled Tribe. The counsel wants us to read the earlier
sentence, viz. "We have looked into the record". In view of the factual
quotation from the Act and the Second Schedule, as extracted in the earlier
part of the judgment, the effect of the above sentence speaks for itself and
F seems to,be otherwise. As a fact the bench proceeded on the basis of the
concession of the Union counsel. it proved to be an obvious mistake and
as a fact that translated Hindi copy was placed before the Court and the
Court proceeded on that premise. The case establishes that the Court was
misled by incorrect record. It proves how wrong it would be to proceed on
the basis of statement by counsel who do not take full responsibility to
G place correct record, in particular, on constitutional issues.

It is seen that in Second Schedule in Part III of the Act, as extracted
hereinbefore, Lahar was not included as a Scheduled Tribe. It is only, as
evidenced from the translated version, that the community 'Lohar' came to
H be wrongly translated for the word "Lohra" or Lohara" and shown to have
/
·~·
NITYANAND SHARMA v. STATE [K. RAMASWAMY, J.] 13

- been included in the Second Schedule, Part III applicable to Bihar State. A
Mr. B.B. Singh, therefore, is right in placing before us the original version
in English and the translated version.

Article 348(1)(b) of the Constitution provides that notwithstanding
anything in Part II (in Chapter II Articles 346 and 347 relate to regional
languages) the authoritative text of all bills to be introduced and amend-
B
ments thereto to be moved in either House of Parliament......... of all
ordinances promulgated by the President............. and all orders, rules,
regulations and bye laws issued under the Constitution or under any law
made by the Parliament, shall be in the English language. By operation of
sub-article (3) thereof with a non obstante clauses, where the Legislature C
::Jf a State has prescribed any language other than the English language for
use in Bills introduced in, or Acts passed by, the legislature of the State or
in Ordinances promulgated by the Governor of the State or in any order,
rule regulation or bye-law referred to in paragraph (iii) of that sub- clause,
a translation of the same in the English language published under the D
authority of the Governor of the State in the official Gazette of that State
shall be deemed to be the authoritative text thereof in the English language
under this article. Therefore, the Act and the Schedule thereto are part of
the Act, as enacted by the Parliament in English language. It is the
authoritative test. When the Schedules were translated into Hindi, the
translator wrongly translated Lohara as Lohra omitting the word 'a' while E
Lohra is written as mentioned in English version. It is also clear when we
compare Part XVI of Second Schedule relating to the State of West
Bengal, the word Lohar both in English as well as in the Hindu ve.rsion
was not mentioned. Court would take judicial notice of Acts of Parliament
and would interpret the Schedule in the light of the English version being F
an authoritative text of the Act and the Second Schedule.

Accordingly, we hold that Lohars are an other Backward Class. They
are not Scheduled Tribes and the Court cannot give any declaration that
Lohars are equivalent to Loharas or Lohars or that they are entitled to the
same status. Any contrary view taken by any Bench/Benches of Bihar High G
Court, is erroneous. It would appear that except some stray cases, there is
a consistent view of that Court that Lohars are not Scheduled Tribes. They
are Blacksmiths. We approve the said view laying down the correct law.

We may mention, before parting with the case, that a writ petition H
14 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1996] 2 S.C.R.

A under Article 32 was filed in this Court in a representative capacity by some
of the students belonging to Lohar community seeking admission into
Medical Colleges to direct the District authorities to give them Social status
certificate as Scheduled Tribes. This Court dismissed the writ petition
holding that no direction could be issued to authorities to act contrary to
the Constitution and the laws and that the writ petition was, therefore, held
B not maintainable. This would give an insight into the consistent attempt by
Lobar community to wear the mask of Scheduled Tribe status and to
masquerade as such for getting the constitutional benefits meant for the
poor tribes, which the President in consultation with the Governor or the
Parliament had not granted to them and such status Scheduled Tribe
c cannot be granted to O.B.Cs.

The appeal, therefore, is dismissed with costs throughout.

R.A. Appeal dismissed.