The Telangana High Court has delivered a significant verdict, dismissing an appeal filed by Chouhan Devanand and six others. The court firmly upheld the cancellation of their Scheduled Tribe (ST) Lambada caste certificates, marking a decisive end to their legal challenge.
Court Upholds Collector's Order, Cites Statutory Remedies
The appellants, all farmers from the same family residing in Ichoda, Adilabad district, had approached the High Court. They sought to overturn an order from May 2025 issued by the district collector, which had cancelled their certificates after finding them to be false. This action was initiated following a complaint from the president of the All India Banjara Seva Sangh (AIBSS) in Adilabad district.
In their petition, the individuals argued that the cancellation was illegal, arbitrary, and violated principles of natural justice. They alleged political influence and collusion by the official respondents. They also pointed out that their certificates had been renewed over the years by the local tahsildar.
However, the High Court found no grounds to interfere with an earlier order from a single judge, who had dismissed their petition in October 2025. A critical legal reason for the dismissal was that the writ petition was not maintainable. The court held that the appellants had a statutory alternative remedy of appeal and review available under The Telangana (Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes) Regulation of Issue of Community Certificates Act.
Migration History Proves Decisive in Denying ST Status
The core of the case rested on the appellants' ancestral history. The court affirmed the lower court's finding that they had failed to produce evidence proving their ST Lambada status prior to 1950. The collector's cancellation order, which was upheld, contained a crucial detail: the appellants' families had migrated from Maharashtra in 1956.
This timeline proved fatal to their claim. The law stipulates that the benefits under the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950, apply only to those whose ancestors were residents of the locality when the Order came into force. Since their migration occurred six years after this cutoff date, they were ruled ineligible to claim Lambada status in Telangana.
The court also addressed the claim of a natural justice violation, stating it was contrary to the official record. The authorities had issued a notice to the appellants, who subsequently appeared before the concerned authority with their advocate to submit evidence, thus being afforded a proper opportunity to be heard.
Legal Precedent and Implications
This ruling reinforces the strict legal framework governing the issuance and verification of caste certificates in Telangana. It underscores the importance of documentary evidence of ancestry and residence prior to the 1950 cutoff for ST status claims. The judgment also highlights the judiciary's insistence on petitioners exhausting all available statutory remedies before approaching the High Court via a writ petition.
The dismissal of the appeal sets a clear precedent for similar cases where claims to Scheduled Tribe status are contested based on migration patterns and a lack of pre-1950 proof. It serves as a stern reminder of the legal rigor applied to prevent fraudulent claims on certificates meant for historically disadvantaged communities.
