In Brief
Terraform Magnum Limited challenged a State Government order restoring land to legal heirs of deceased Hira Komb, a Scheduled Tribe member. The primary beneficiary, Dinesh Kishan Komb, held a Scheduled Tribe caste certificate on which the restoration claim was based. During the appeal, the Caste Scrutiny Committee invalidated Dinesh's certificate. The Supreme Court held that welfare legislation benefiting Scheduled Tribes applies only to those with valid, verified Scheduled Tribe status. Since Dinesh's certificate was invalidated and no other legal heir possessed one, the foundation for restoration collapsed. The Court allowed the appeal and quashed the restoration orders.
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