In Brief
An appellant challenged the cancellation of her caste certificate (SC status) by the District Vigilance Committee after the same committee had previously upheld it in 1999. The State Level Scrutiny Committee had remanded the matter for fresh inquiry in 2006. The Supreme Court held that once a District Vigilance Committee's decision on a caste certificate becomes final without being challenged, the State Level Scrutiny Committee lacks jurisdiction to reopen it. Reopening caste certificates is permissible only when vitiated by fraud or issued without proper inquiry. Repeated inquiries harm SC/ST members. The appeal was allowed and the cancellation order set aside.
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