In a recent decision by the Bombay High Court, the Koltakke siblings—Ajinkya, Karan, and Asmita—faced a complicated legal fight about their caste certificates. The court finally canceled the previous decisions that denied them Scheduled Tribe status.
Ajinkya, Karan, and Asmita Koltakke, all in their mid-20s, applied for Scheduled Tribe certificates under the "Koli Mahadeo" category. They submitted their applications to the Sub-Divisional Officer in Akola, but their requests were initially turned down.
"The siblings are challenging the decision... which denied their claim to the 'Koli Mahadeo' Scheduled Tribe."
The siblings' applications were first rejected on August 8, 2023. This decision was based on a 1947 document listing their grandfather as "Koli," a Special Backward Class, not a Scheduled Tribe.
"The documents... showed the siblings' grandfather’s caste as 'Koli,' which is part of the Special Backward Class."
The Koltakke siblings appealed to the Scheduled Tribe Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee. However, their appeal was denied again on September 13, 2023, and another appeal was also rejected in 2024.
Judges M.S. Jawalkar and Raj D. Wakode looked at similar past cases where the same issues were resolved in favor of the applicants. The court found that the Sub-Divisional Officer went beyond his power by questioning the validity of the caste claim, which should have been the Scrutiny Committee's job.
"The Sub-Divisional Officer overstepped his authority while refusing to give caste certificates to the siblings."
The High Court canceled all previous decisions and told the Sub-Divisional Officer to issue the caste certificates within three weeks. The Scrutiny Committee was instructed to look at the case again without bias.
"The challenged decisions... are hereby canceled and set aside."
The decision marks a big win for the Koltakke siblings, ensuring their rightful recognition as members of the Scheduled Tribe. This case shows the complexities and challenges in the process of verifying caste certificates.
