W.P.No.2517 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 31.01.2025 CORAM: THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.SUBRAMANIAN AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN W.P.No. 2517 of 2025 A.Elakkiyavasan ...Petitioner Vs. The Revenue Divisional Officer, Vellore, Sathuvachari, Vellore - 632 009. ...Respondent Prayer: Writ Petition filed under 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records relating to the rejection order in Na.Ka.A1/1455/2024 dated 22.08.2024 quash the same and direct the respondent to issue online community certificate to the petitioner that he belongs to Kattunayakan (ST) Community based upon the community certificate already issued to the petitioner and his family members. For Petitioner : Mr.V.Elangovan For Respondent : Mr.Vadivelu Deenadayalan Additional Government Pleader 1/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.2517 of 2025 O R D E R Aggrieved by the extraordinary order of the Revenue Divisional Officer, Vellore, rejecting his claim for issuance of online community certificate to the effect that he belongs to "Hindu Kattunayakan", Scheduled Tribe community, the petitioner is before us. 2. Along with his application, the petitioner has uploaded the community certificate of his grandfather / Thiru.K.Srinivasan issued by the Additional District Magistrate, North Arcot dated 01.09.1956, certificates of his father / Thiru.S.Azhagia Nambi dated 04.02.1980 & 30.06.1987 issued by the Tahsildar, Vellore, community certificate of Mrs.S.Valarmathi / mother of the petitioner dated 30.06.1987 issued by the Tahsildar, Vellore, the order of the State Level Scrutiny Committee dated 29.01.2009, confirming the genuineness of the community certificates of Thiru.S.Azhagia Nambi / father of the petitioner, community certificates issued by the Revenue Divisional Officer dated 01.06.2009 in favour of his father & mother, community certificates dated 01.06.2009 issued to S.Sarguna, S.Deepa and S.Thilaka, who are the aunts of the petitioner, community certificates dated 01.06.2009 issued to his own sisters, 2/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.2517 of 2025 Kavimathi & Mathi and community certificate dated 01.06.2009 issued by the Revenue Divisional Officer, Vellore to the petitioner himself. Despite these certificates having been produced, the Revenue Divisional Officer, Vellore has chosen to reject the claim, on the ground that the Anthropologist report does not favour with the conclusion that the petitioner belongs to "Hindu Kattunayakan" community. 3. This Court and the Hon'ble Supreme Court have repeatedly held that the report of the Anthropologist is not final and it is only an opinion. This Court as well as the Hon'ble Supreme Court have also repeatedly held that once an order of the State Level Scrutiny Committee, certifying the genuineness of the certificate of any of the blood relatives of the applicant is produced, the petitioner must be favoured with a certificate. 4. It is not seen from the order impugned in the Writ Petition that the Revenue Divisional Officer, Vellore had any doubt regarding the genuineness of the order of the State Level Scrutiny Committee dated 29.01.2009, certifying the genuineness of the community certificates issued to Mr.S.Azhagia Nambi / father of the petitioner. When the entire family of 3/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.2517 of 2025 the petitioner including his grandfather, father, paternal aunts, sisters as well as the mother have been favoured with the community certificate to the effect that they belong to "Hindu Kattunayakan", a scheduled tribe community, rejecting the application of the petitioner for issuance of an online certificate appears to be designed to extract money from the petitioner. This has almost become a habit of the certificate issuing Officers. 5. Despite several pronouncements of this Court and the Hon'ble Supreme Court on this issue, the Revenue Divisional Officers and their Sub- ordinates find one or other new reason to reject even genuine claims made. We find that the time has come to put an end to this practice. 6. This Writ Petition is therefore, allowed, the order of the Revenue Divisional Officer, Vellore is set aside. No costs. The Revenue Divisional Officer, Vellore is directed to issue an online community certificate, certifying that the petitioner belong to "Hindu Kattunayakan", a scheduled tribe community within 10 days from today i.e., 31.01.2025. The State will also pay a cost of Rs.1,00,000/- to the petitioner and the same shall be paid 4/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.2517 of 2025 within 10 days from today. The cost will be recoverable from the Officer concerned. 7. Post "for reporting compliance" regarding payment of cost and issuance of certificate on 12.02.2025. (R.S.M., J.) (C.K., J.) 31.01.2025 kkn Index: No Speaking Neutral Citation : No Note: Issue order copy on 06.02.2025. To: The Revenue Divisional Officer, Vellore, Sathuvachari, Vellore - 632 009. 5/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.2517 of 2025 R.SUBRAMANIAN, J. and C.KUMARAPPAN, J. KKN W.P.No. 2517 of 2025 31.01.2025 6/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis