1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 5193 OF 2009 Master Sagar Kalyansing Patil ..Petitioner versus State of Maharashtra and others ..Respondents Mr. R.K. Mehandadkar for Petitioner. Smt.S.S. Bhende, AGP for Respondent Nos. 1, 2 and 4 CORAM : D. D. SINHA & A. A. SAYED , JJ. DATED : FEBRUARY 1, 2010. P.C. 1 Heard Mr. Mehandadkar, learned Counsel for the petitioner and Smt. Bhende, learned AGP for the respondent Nos. 1, 2 and 4. Writ Petition is directed against the order dated 24th November, 2006, passed by respondent No.2 Caste Scrutiny Committee, whereby invalidating the caste certificate of the petitioner as belonging to Rajput Bhamta, Vimukta Jati issued by respondent No.4. Heard the contentions canvassed by the learned respective Counsel, perused the impugned order. The following facts are not in dispute. The school leaving certificate dated 21st November, 1961 pertaining to the father of the petitioner, which is placed on record discloses that the caste of the father mentioned therein was "Hindu Rajput". The Vigilance Cell in order to verify the genuineness of the School Leaving Certificate of Janrao Motiram Patil, petitioner's grand-father, wherein the 2 the caste was shown as "Rajput Bhamta", visited the school in question. The School Authorities informed that the white ants destroyed the said document. Therefore, the contents thereof were not readable. 2 The petitioner was given an opportunity to place any other documentary evidence in support of caste claim on 23-9-2006, 9-10-2006 and 14-11-2006. However, the petitioner neither personally remained present before the Committee nor placed any other documentary evidence before the Committee. 3 In the circumstances, the order of the Caste Scrutiny Committee invalidating caste claim of the petitioner for want of adequate evidence, in our view is just and proper, needs no interference. Hence, writ petition is dismissed. (D. D. SINHA, J.) ( A. A. SAYED, J.)