Madrasdated High Court · 2025

WP No. 20767 of 2025For Petitioner(s):Mr.R.RajkumarMs.J.GopikaFor Respondent(s):Mr. Vadivel DeenadayalanAdditional Government PleaderORDER(Order of the Court was made by J.NISHA BANU, J.)The present Writ Petition is filed seeking to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records of the 2nd respondent made in impugned letter No.20795/CV-4(2)/2015-15, dated 12.06.2023 and quash the same and consequently refrain the respondents from making verification into the petitioner's community after retirement in the light of the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in SLP (C) No.24458/2019, dated 03.03.2023.2. It is the case of the petitioner that he belongs to Hindu Konda Reddy Community, which is classified as 'Scheduled Tribe' and he was issued community certificate to that effect on 21.01.1980 by the Tahsildar, Avanashi. The petitioner was appointed as Clerk on temporary basis on 31.05.1983 in the State Bank of India under ST quota. The petitioner submitted his original community certificate to his employer, who had forwarded the same to the District Collector, Coimbatore for verification on 07.08.1987. The District Collector had cancelled the community certificate of the petitioner, vide order dated 24.11.1990 and challenging the same, he filed W.P.No.19402 of 1990. 2 of 15 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 20767 of 2025The said writ petition was allowed by this court, vide common order dated 24.02.1995, directing the Collector to give an opportunity to the petitioner to hear his grievances and pass orders. However, the said order was challenged by the State Bank of India in W.A.No.192 of 1996, in which, this court had directed the District collector to decide the matter within 6 months and until such determination, the State Bank of India shall not proceed against the petitioner. As against the said order, the State Bank of India preferred SLP No.23124 of 1996 before the Supreme Court and the same was dismissed. Thereafter, the District Collector sent a notice dated 20.12.1996 to the petitioner for verification of his community certificate, for which, the petitioner sent a reply. 3. In such circumstances, after a lapse of more than 34 years, the District Superintendent of Police, Vigilance Cell had sent a letter dated 29.09.2017, calling upon the petitioner for enquiry and after conducting enquiry, the DSP files his enquiry report on 09.12.2017. Thereafter, the Director of Tribal Welfare had sent a show cause notice dated 19.12.2017 and 06.05.2019, for which the petitioner had given his detailed explanation on 04.01.2018, 19.10.2018 and 11.06.2019, however, there was no response to his reply. Even without considering his reply, the 2nd respondent had sent communications repeatedly, stating that the petitioner did not submit his reply to the show cause notice and further directed the Tribal Welfare Department to get explanation and forward it 3 of 15 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 20767 of 2025to the respondent, by its impugned letter dated 12.06.2023.4. According to the petitioner, he got retired from service as early as on 30.04.2019, without receiving any benefits and even after his retirement there is no progress in the case of the petitioner, except the enquiry report submitted by the Vigilance Cell. There is an inordinate delay in each and every stage on the part of the respondents. Further, after a lapse of more than 37 years, there is no necessity to verify the community status of the petitioner, as he was already retired from service. The Government of India issued guidelines periodically, mandating all employers and authorities to undertake verification at the earliest point of time, preferably at the time of one's entry into the service. Now the petitioner is aged 65 years and he is suffering from various ailments and hence he should not be made to suffer on the part of the respondents in respect of delay. Hence this writ petition.5. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondent and perused the materials available on record.6. It is seen from the records that the petitioner joined the services in State Bank of India as early as on 21.01.1980 and he retired from service on 30.04.2019. Therefore, questioning his community certificate, after a long time, 4 of 15 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 20767 of 2025that too, after a lapse of 4 years after his retirement is uncalled for. The Government of India has issued guidelines periodically mandating all the employers and authorities to conduct verifications ideally at the time of an employee's entry into service, so as to ensure the accuracy and integrity of personnel records.7. The Apex Court in the case of R.Sundaram vs. The Tamil Nadu State Level Scrutiny Committee and Others dated 17.03.2023, in Paragraph No.16 held as follows:-“16. It has been explicitly stated by this court that the exercise of verification of community certificate must be completed expeditiously. In the present case, however, as has been mentioned above, there has been an inordinate and unexplained delay of 19 years, an amount of time which cannot be fathomed, within the ambit of 'reasonable time'.” 8. In yet another case, the Supreme Court in SLP(C) No.24458/2019 dated 03.03.2023, was pleased to hold as under:“It is submitted that the respondent No.1 who served in the Railways has superannuated on 28.02.2022 and therefore, the exercise in this case would largely be academic on the aspect of whether she belonged to the claimed Scheduled Tribe category. Considering the above, we deem it is appropriate to order for closure of the proceedings. Accordingly, the Special leave Petition stands disposed of.”5 of 15 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 20767 of 20259. The decision rendered by the Supreme Court in the case of Kumari Madhuri Patil vs. Additional Commissioner, reported in 1995 AIR 94 weighs much importance in the case on hand, had elaborately dealt with the issue of community certificate and observed that as per Article 15(4) of the Constitution of India, it is for the State to make special provisions for advancement of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Further, it was observed that in the light of Article 16(1), equality of opportunity to all citizens in matters of appointments to an office or a post under the Union or a State Government or public undertakings etc., should be ensured. For that purpose, Article 16(4) empowers the State to make provisions for reservation of appointments or posts in favour of classes of citizens not adequately represented in the services under the State. The Hon'ble Supreme Court, in the said judgment while issuing certain guidelines, insisted that the community certificate in respect of SC/ST should be scrutinised at the earliest. For the sake of convenience, relevant paragraphs of the judgment are reproduced below:“It is, therefore, necessary that the certificates issued are scrutinised at the earliest and with utmost expedition and promptitude. For that purpose, it is necessary to streamline the procedure for the issuance of social status certificates, their scrutiny and their approval, which may be the following:1. The application for grant of social status certificate shall be made to the Revenue Sub-Divisional Officer and Deputy Collector or Deputy Commissioner and the certificate shall be issued by such officer rather than at the Officer, Taluk or Mandal level.6 of 15 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 20767 of 20252. The parent, guardian or the candidate, as the case may be, shall file an affidavit duly sworn and attested by a competent gazetted officer or non-gazetted officer with particulars of castes and sub-castes, tribe, tribal community, parts or groups of tribes or tribal communities, the place from which he originally hails from and other particulars as may be prescribed by the Directorate concerned.3. Application for verification of the caste certificate by the Scrutiny Committee shall be filed at least six months in advance before seeking admission into educational institution or an appointment to a post.4. All the State Governments shall constitute a Committee of three officers, namely, (1) an Additional or Joint Secretary or any officer higher in rank of the Director of the department concerned, (11) the Director, Social Welfare/Tribal Welfare/Backward Class Welfare, as the case may be, and (III) in the case of Scheduled Castes another officer who has intimate knowledge in the verification and issuance of the social status certificates.In the case of the Scheduled Tribes, the Research Officer who has intimate knowledge in identifying the tribes, tribal communities, parts of or groups of tribes or tribal communities.5. Each Directorate should constitute a vigilance cell consisting of Senior Deputy Superintendent of Police in over-all charge and such number of Police Inspectors to investigate into the social status claims. The Inspector would go to the local place of residence and original place from which the candidate hails and 7 of 15 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 20767 of 2025usually resides or in case of migration to the town or city, the place from which he originally hailed from. The vigilance officer should personally verify and collect all the facts of the social status claimed by the candidate or the parent or guardian, as the case may be. He should also examine the school records, birth registration, if any. He should also examine the parent, guardian or the candidate in relation to their caste etc. or such other persons who have knowledge of the social status of the candidate and then submit a report to the Directorate together with all particulars as envisaged in the pro forma, in particular, of the Scheduled Tribes relating to their peculiar anthropological and ethnological traits, deity, rituals, customs, mode of marriage, death ceremonies, method of burial of dead bodies etc. by the castes or tribes or tribal communities concerned etc.6. The Director concerned, on receipt of the report from the vigilance officer if he found the claim for social status to be "not genuine" or 'doubtful' or spurious or falsely or wrongly claimed, the Director concerned should issue show-cause notice supplying a copy of the report of the vigilance officer to the candidate by a registered post with acknowledgement due or through the head of the educational institution concerned in which the candidate is studying or employed. The notice should indicate that the representation or reply, if any, would be made within two weeks from the date of the receipt of the notice and in no case on request not more than 30 days from the date of the receipt of the notice.”10. Keeping in mind the above judgment of the Apex Court, an Office Memorandum was issued on 24.12.2020 by the Joint Secretary, Lok Sabha Secretariat. The relevant portions of the Office Memorandum are extracted 8 of 15 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 20767 of 2025hereunder:“...It is pertinent to mention that the Departments/Banks/PSUs have not adhered to the above mentioned guidelines of DoP&T and CVC and also it is not in conformity with the Hon'ble Supreme Court judgment delivered vide Kumari Madhuri Patil Vs. Addl. Commissioner in 1995 AIR 94, 1994 SSC (6) 241 Order dated 02.09.1994 since this judgment can only be implemented in prospective.2. Here, it is pertinent to bring to your notice DoP&T OM no.230/08/2005-AVD II dated 25.05.2005, which clearly states the following:-“Government has, therefore decided that a detailed verification of all such certificates produced before various appointing authorities since 1995 be carried. The CVOs are requested to initiate this task by collecting the details of all those who had been appointed in the Ministries/Departments or agencies including CPSUs with which they are concerned, since 1995 on the strength of ST certificates.2. Keeping in view the above mentioned facts, it is requested that the concerned State Level Scrutiny Committee be directed to verify the ST caste certificates of only those employees who were appointed after the year 1995 and the process of verification should be completed within two months. The Action Taken Report in this regard may be please be forwarded to this Secretariat at the earliest but not later than 18.02.2021 so that the same may be placed before the Committee.”9 of 15 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 20767 of 202511. The above referred Office Memorandum makes it very clear that community certificates of employees, who were inducted into Government Service after 1995 can alone be subjected for scrutiny / verification. To be more precise, it is incumbent on the employers / authorities to conduct verifications ideally at the time of an employee's entry into service, so as to ensure the accuracy and integrity of personnel records.12. In furtherance thereof, the Government of India, Ministry of Personnel, PG & Pensions, Department of Personnel and Training issued instructions dated 21.10.2022 to all State / UT Governments, insisting upon the need for timely verification of Caste / Community certificates, indicating as follows:“3. In this regard, it is reiterated that the responsibility for the issue and verification of Caste Certificate lies with the concerned State / UT Government. The Hon'ble Supreme Court, vide its order dated 02.09.1994 in the matter of Kumari Madhuri Patil vs. Addl. Commissioner, has laid down the detailed guidelines for effective verification of the Caste Certificates of the employees by the State Government, so that no person, on the basis of fake caste certificate, may secure employment wrongfully in the Government.”13. On a reading of the aforesaid instructions, it is apparent that the Government of India is very keen in curbing the wrongful entry of an employee in the Government Service based on the fake community certificate and issued 10 of 15 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 20767 of 2025instructions to all State / UT Governments for verification of the community certificates at the earliest point of time.14. In an another Office Memorandum dated 30.11.2021, issued by the Government of India, Ministry of Personnel, PG & Pensions, Department of Pension & Pensioner's Welfare strictly instructed concerned Departments that unless departmental or judicial proceedings are pending against a retired employee, the pensionary / retirement benefits due to the retiring employee should not be withheld or delay on the ground of pendency of verification of caste certificate.15. Learned counsel for the petitioner drew our attention to the Government Order dated 15.10.2012 issued by the Government of Tamil Nadu, constituting a District Level Vigilance Committee and State Level Scrutiny Committee to verify the genuineness of the community certificates. Vigilance Cells at Chennai, Salem, Trichy and Madurai were also formed to verify the community status and submit a report to the Committee. In the Government Order, the functions of the Vigilance Cells have been enumerated and a time frame has also been fixed for completion of enquiry, which reads as follows:“vii) The inquiry should be completed as expeditiously as possible preferably by day to day proceedings within such period not exceeding two months. If after inquiry, the competent committee finds the claim to be false or spurious, they should pass 11 of 15 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 20767 of 2025an order cancelling the certificate issued and confiscate the same. It should communicate within one month from the date of the conclusion of the proceedings the result of enquiry to the parent / guardian and the applicant.”16. In the light of various judgments of the Supreme Court and also the guidelines / instructions / GO issued by both Government of India and State Government, from time to time, we are of the view that the respondent cannot keep the matter pending for months / years together in the garb of verification of community certificates, especially when there is a specific time frame fixed for completion of such verification.17. In this case, the petitioner was issued Community Certificate on 21.01.1980 to the effect that he belongs to Hindu Konda Reddy ST Community and subsequently, he was appointed as Clerk on 31.05.1983 on temporary basis and he also retired from service as early as on 30.04.2019. Therefore, the verification of his community certificate at this belated stage will be a futile exercise and is not in consonance with the judgment of the Supreme Court and guidelines issued by the Government. Hence, we have no other option, but to set aside the impugned proceedings.18. The learned counsel for the petitioner would state that the petitioner at this age is finding difficult to appear for enquiry before the officials 12 of 15 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 20767 of 2025and therefore, the petitioner would state that he is willing to surrender his community certificate and he will not claim concessions to his children on the basis of his community certificate.19. In the result, the Writ Petition is allowed. The impugned letter No.20795/CV-4(2)/2015-15, dated 12.06.2023 issued by the 2nd respondent is hereby set aside. The petitioner shall surrender his community certificate (if not already surrendered) to the concerned Officials on due acknowledgment. The undertaking given by the petitioner dated 14.06.2025 that he will not make any claim or derive concessions to his child/children on the basis of his caste certificate is hereby recorded. In case, any application for issuance of community certificate is made by the son/s or daughter/s of the petitioner in future for the purpose of education, employment, etc., an independent enquiry can be conducted by following due process of law and a decision shall be taken in respect of issuance of community certificate within two months from the date of receipt of application, if any made, bearing in mind the judgment of the Supreme Court / guidelines and the Government Order issued by the State Government dated 15.10.2012 (referred to supra). No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. (J.N.B. J.) (M.J.R.J.)mst 19.06.202513 of 15 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 20767 of 2025To1. The Chairman, State Level Scrutiny Committee-III, Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare (CV 4) Department, Secretariat, Chennai 600 009.2. The Under Secretary to Government, Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare (CV 4) Department, Secretariat, Chennai 600 009.14 of 15 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 20767 of 2025J.NISHA BANU, J.ANDM. JOTHIRAMAN, J.mstW.P.No.20767 of 202519.06.202515 of 15