THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION No.27570 of 2009 ORDER: The petitioner submitted an application in response to a notification issued by the District Selection Committee for appointment to the post of School Assistant. He appeared in the written test as well as interview. He was selected against a vacancy reserved in favour of Scheduled Tribe candidates. However, a complaint was submitted to the District Collector, the first respondent herein, alleging that the petitioner and another, by name Dolai Brundavan, have submitted fake caste certificates. Acting on the same, the first respondent addressed a letter, dated 03.11.2009, to the Revenue Divisional Officer, the second respondent herein, to verify the genuiness of the caste certificate of the petitioner. He has also addressed a letter, dated 27.10.2009, to the District Educational Officer stating that the matter is under verification. The petitioner contends that he was issued caste certificate by the competent authority way back in the year 1997 and unless and until it is set aside in accordance with the prescribed procedure, the respondents cannot dispute his social status. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Pleader for Social Welfare. The petitioner, no doubt, was issued a caste certificate by the Mandal Revenue Officer, Kotabommali way back in the year 1997, certifying that he belongs to ‘yeneti kond’ community, which is recognised as Scheduled Tribe. In case any doubt is expressed about the genuinity of the certificate, the verification has to be undertaken in accordance with the prescribed procedure under the Andhra Pradesh (Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes) Regulation of Issue of Community Certificates Act, 1993. Since the petitioner was selected as School Assistant against a vacancy reserved in favour of Scheduled Tribes, the matter cannot be kept pending indefinitely. Hence, the writ petition is disposed of, directing the first respondent to conclude his verification about the genuinity of the caste certificate issued to the petitioner, within a period of four (4) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. In case the verification is not completed within that period, the District Educational Officer shall not withhold the appointment of the petitioner on the ground that the matter is under verification. There shall be no order as to costs. _____________________ L.NARASIMHA REDDY,J Dt:17.12.2009 Note: Issue cc in three days. (B/o) kdl