Bombay High Court
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|Monday, 23 February 2026Bombay HC Quashes Rejection of Caste Claim in Sachin Nagpure vs Scheduled Tribe Committee
Bench
Smt. M. S. JAWALKAR, J.
M.S. Jawalkar
Bombay HC Quashes Rejection of Caste Claim in Sachin Nagpure vs Scheduled Tribe Committee (2026) held that Pre-Constitutional documents carry greater probative value and must be considered in caste claims.
Sachin Nagpure challenged the rejection of his caste claim as 'Halbi' Scheduled Tribe by the Scheduled Tribe Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee. The court found that the committee failed to properly evaluate the substantial documentary evidence supporting his claim, which included pre-Constitutional documents. The court ruled that the rejection based on the affinity test was irrelevant given the overwhelming evidence of tribal identity. Consequently, the court quashed the committee's order and recognized Sachin's caste claim.
Pre-Constitutional documents carry greater probative value and must be considered in caste claims.
The affinity test is irrelevant when overwhelming documentary evidence establishes tribal identity.
A committee's rejection of a caste claim must be based on a thorough examination of evidence, including expert inquiry into customs and practices.
Petition filed challenging caste claim rejection
Case reserved for judgment
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