IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE R.SUBHASH REDDY WRIT PETITION NO :18593 of 1997 Dated 24th October, 2006 Between Kum.Mata Jaya Sree ….Petitioner and The District Collector, East Godavari District, at Kakinada and ors. ….Respondents. THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE R.SUBHASH REDDY WRIT PETITION NO : 18593 of 1997 ORDER: This Writ Petition has been filed questioning the endorsement made in proceedings No.T8/1038/96, dated 14-7-1997 by the fourth respondent, rejecting the claim of the petitioner for issuance of Caste Certificate as belonging to Valmiki Tribe. It is submitted by the learned Counsel for the petitioner that though application was made to the first respondent-District Collector for issuance of Caste Certificate, but however, the Project Officer, ITDA, Rampachodavaram, who is not the competent authority, has made the impugned endorsement. Issuance of Caste Certificates is governed by the Andhra Pradesh (SC,ST & BCs) Regulation of Issue of Community Certificates Act, 1993. As per the provisions of the said Act, Mandal Revenue Officer is the competent authority to consider the claims for issuance of Caste Certificates and the Government is the appellate authority. Though the very application is submitted to the District Collector, but at the same time, it is equally wrong on the part of the Project Officer, ITDA in making endorsement, which is without jurisdiction. In that view of the matter, the endorsement made by the fourth respondent in proceedings No.T8/1038/96, dated 14-7-1997 is set aside. It is open for the petitioner to approach the Mandal Revenue Officer for issuance of Caste Certificate and if the petitioner files any application, it is open for the respondents to make necessary enquiry and pass appropriate orders. Subject to the above direction, the Writ Petition is disposed of. No order as to costs. ---------------------------------- JUSTICE R. SUBHASH REDDY DATE: 24-10-2006 Msnr.