In Brief
An appellant born in Hyderabad held a valid caste certificate as "Munnur Kapu" (Other Backward Caste). After marriage in 1987, she migrated to Maharashtra and obtained a fresh caste certificate under Rule 6(1)(a) from Maharashtra's competent authority in 2016 to contest municipal elections. The Verification Committee refused to verify it, claiming Rule 14's proviso barred verification of migrant caste certificates. The High Court upheld this, wrongly applying Rule 6(1)(c). The Supreme Court held the Committee and High Court erred: Rule 6(1)(a) certificates issued by Maharashtra authorities can be verified. The High Court's misapplication of Rule 6(1)(c) was unsustainable. The Court set aside the High Court's order and granted prospective recognition of her caste status, though did not reinstate her to the already-concluded tenure."
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.