Mohd. Asif vs State Of Maharashtra & Ors

The Supreme Court held that the rejection of the appellant's caste certificate by the Divisional Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee was not justified, as the appellant provided sufficient evidence of belonging to the 'Behna' caste recognized as Scheduled Caste in Maharashtra. The Court emphasized the importance of adhering to the principles of natural justice and the need for fair inquiry in caste certificate matters. The appeal was allowed, and the High Court's dismissal of the writ petition was set aside, reinstating the appellant's status as a Scheduled Caste candidate.