State Of Maharashtra & Ors vs Ravi Prakash Babulalsing Parmar & Anr

The Supreme Court examined the jurisdiction of the Caste Scrutiny Committee in relation to the Scheduled Tribes under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Orders (Amendment) Act, 1976. The Court held that the Committee must adhere to principles of natural justice and give precedence to documentary evidence over oral evidence in caste verification processes. The Court upheld the Bombay High Court's ruling that the Scrutiny Committee lacked the competence to question the caste status of the respondent, thereby reinstating the validity of the caste certificate issued to him.