Hanmant Digambar Totewad v. The State Of Maharashtra And Others

2025:BHC-AUG:13753-DB 932 WP NO. 5989 OF 2025

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

BENCH AT AURANGABAD WRIT PETITION NO. 5989 OF 2025 HANMANT DIGAMBAR TOTEWAD

VERSUS

THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS ...

• Mr. Thorat Chandrakant R., Advocate for the Petitioner • Mr. R. K. Ingole, AGP for Respondents/State ...

CORAM

:

MANGESH S. PATIL & Y. G. KHOBRAGADE, JJ.

DATE : 06.05.2025 PER COURT :

.

Petitioner's cousin niece - Shreya Madhav Totewad was seeking validation of her 'Mannervarlu' scheduled tribe. Respondent No. 2 - the Scrutiny Committee directed a vigilance enquiry, obtained its report and rejected her claim. She challenged before this Court in Writ Petition No. 10827 of 2024 and by order dated 16.10.2024, for the reasons recorded therein, the petition was allowed partly and the committee was directed to issue her a certificate of 'Mannervarlu' scheduled tribe, though subject to certain conditions. 2.

Since petitioner was also seeking scrutiny about his 'Mannervarlu' scheduled tribe certificate, the Scrutiny Committee 1/2

932 WP NO. 5989 OF 2025 decided his claim on the basis of the vigilance enquiry report conducted in the matter of Shreya, as is evident from the specific observations in the impugned judgment and order. 3.

Having faced a similar invalidation, the petitioner is before us, challenging the order of the Scrutiny Committee. 4.

Issue notice. Learned AGP waives service for all respondents.

5.

For the same reasons as have been recorded by the division bench in the matter of Shreya Madhav Totewad V/s. The State of Maharashtra and Another; Writ Petition No. 10827 of 2024, the present Writ Petition is allowed partly. The impugned order is quashed and set aside. Respondent No. 2 - the Scrutiny Committee shall issue certificate of validity to the petitioner as belonging to 'Mannervarlu' in prescribed proforma. The validity shall be coterminus with the validities of earlier validity holders. 6.

The petitioner shall not be entitled to claim equities. (Y. G. KHOBRAGADE, J.) (MANGESH S. PATIL, J.) jhs/ 2/2