1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO.3417 OF 2009 Urmila Bajarang Karanjkar. ...Petitioner. vs. 1.The State of Maharashtra & ors. ...Respondents. --- Mr.R.K.Mendadkar, for Petitioner. Mr.V.A.Gangal, Special Counsel @ Mr.S.S.Deshmukh, Mr.Ashok Gade & Mr.C.R.Sonawane, AGP for Respondents 1 & 2. CORAM: D.K.DESHMUKH & K.K.TATED, JJ. DATED: 5th December,2009 P.C.:- 1. The petitioner by this petition challenges the order dated 13.2.2009 passed by the Scrutiny committee holding that the certificate issued in favour of the petitioner that she belongs to Mahadeo Koli Scheduled Tribe, is not valid. 2 2. We have heard the learned Counsel appearing for both the sides. Perused the record. The Scrutiny Committee which has passed the order consists of experts on the subject and is constituted pursuant to the directions issued by the Supreme Court, therefore, interference in the decision of such Tribunal, which consists of experts, by the High Court in its extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India should be minimal and should be restricted only where the Court finds that there was infraction of principles of natural justice in decision making process. In so far as the present case is concerned, it is clear that in the School record of the petitioner s father which relates to pre-independence period, the entry about caste is Hindu Koli . Similar entries are found in relation to other close relatives of the petitioner. In view of the law laid down by the Supreme Court that the documents relating to pre-independence period carry greater evidentiary value, the conclusion reached by the Scrutiny committee cannot be faulted. The petition is, therefore, rejected. 3 3. A request is made by the learned Counsel appearing for petitioner that the order protecting the service of the petitioner be continued. There is statutory law in force in the State of Maharashtra saying that once a person who is occupying a seat reserved for the candidate belonging to Scheduled Tribe on the basis of a certificate which is found by the Scrutiny committee to be invalid, then the person must vacate the seat. In our opinion, if we continue the interim order after finding that the Scrutiny committee was justified in holding that the Caste certificate of the petitioner is invalid, it will be contrary to the statutory provision. As per the law settled by the Supreme Court, the Court should not make interim order which is contrary to the statutory provisions. The request is, therefore, rejected. (D.K.DESHMUKH, J.) (K.K.TATED, J.)