SANDEEP KUMAR SANGAM vs STATE OF CHHATTISGARH

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CGHC010415032026 2026:CGHC:45429
Digitally
signed by
YOGESH
TIWARI
Date:
2026.10.28
18:00:46
+0530
YOGESH
TIWARI
NAFR
HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR
WPC No. 5353 of 2026
Sandeep Kumar Sangam S/o Late Balram Sangam, Aged About 46
Years Presently Working As Head Master (Primary School) At Govt
Primary School, Bodaguda, Block Bakawand, District Bastar (C.G.)
Presently R/o. Block Colony Bakawand, District Bastar (C.G.)
... Petitioner
versus
1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Secretary Department Of
Scheduled Castes And Scheduled Tribes, Mantralaya, Mahanadi
Bhawan Atal Nagar Naya Raipur, District Raipur (C.G.)
2 - State Of Chhattisgarh, Through The Secretary Department Of
School Education , Mantralaya, Mahanadi Bhawan Atal Nagar Naya
Raipur, District Raipur (C.G.)
3 - Director Directorate Of Public Instruction, Block-3, First Floor,
Indrawati Bhawan Atal Nagar Naya Raipur, District Raipur (C.G.)
4 - High Power Certification Scrutiny Committee, Through Its Member
Secretary Cum Director, Scheduled Castes And Scheduled Tribes
Development Department Office At Block 4-D, Ground Floor, Atal Nagar
Naya Raipur, District Raipur (C.G.)
5 - Secretary, Chhattisgasrh State Scheduled Tribes Commission, State
Of Chhattisgarh, 61 Jal Vihar Colony, Raipur District Raipur (C.G.)
6 - Collector (Tribal Development Department ), Bijapur, District Bijapur
(C.G.)
7 - District Level Certificate Verification Committee, Through Its Member
Secretary Cum Assistant Commissioner, Bijapur District Bijapur (C.G.)

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8 - District Education Officer, Bastar (Jagdalpur), District Bastar (C.G.)
9 - Sub Divisional Officer (R), Jagdalpur , District Bastar (C.G.)
... Respondents
(Cause-title taken from Case Information System)
For Petitioner : Mr. Govind Prasad Dewangan, Advocate
For State : Mr. Sangharsh Pandey, Govt. Advocate
Hon’ble Shri Amitendra Kishore Prasad, Judge
Order on Board
28.10.2026
1. By filing the present writ petition, the petitioner assails the
order/inquiry report dated 06.01.2026 (Annexure P/1) passed by
respondent No. 7, the District Level Certificate Verification
Committee, Bijapur, District Bijapur (C.G.), whereby the caste
certificate issued in favour of the petitioner by the competent
authority, i.e., the Sub-Divisional Officer (Revenue), Jagdalpur,
District Bastar (C.G.), has been cancelled by holding it to be
forged and fabricated, and consequential action has been
recommended against the petitioner, including recovery of benefits
obtained on the basis of the said certificate and termination of
services. The petitioner has prayed for following relief(s) :-
“10.1 That, this Hon'ble Court may kindly be
pleased to call for the entire records in relates
to the case of the petitioner from the
possession of respondents for its kind perusal.
10.2 That, this Hon'ble Court may kindly be
pleased to set aside the impugned order/
inquiry report dated 06.01.2026 (Annexure-

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P/1) issued/ passed by the respondent no.7
i.e. District Level Certificate Verification
Committee, Bijapur, District Bijapur (C.G.)
holding it to be bad in law and further be
pleased to set aside all the consequential
proceeding which has been initiated on the
basis of the said impugned order/ inquiry
report dated 06.01.2026 (Annexure-P/1) and
pleased to pass an order for restoration of the
caste certificate of the petitioner, in the
interest of justice.
10.3 That, this Hon'ble Court may kindly be
pleased to grant any other relief/relief's in
favour of the petitioner, which the Hon'ble
Court deemed fit & just in the facts and
circumstances of the case, including awarding
of the costs to the petitioner. ”
2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that respondent No. 7,
i.e., the District Level Certificate Verification Committee, has acted
without jurisdiction in cancelling the caste certificate issued in
favour of the petitioner. It is contended that, under the provisions
of the Chhattisgarh Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and
Other Backward Classes (Regulation of Social Status Certification)
Act, 2013, the District Level Certificate Verification Committee is
not empowered to cancel a caste certificate issued by the
competent authority. Its role is confined to referring the matter,
along with the relevant documents and its findings, to the High
Power Certification Scrutiny Committee for appropriate action in
accordance with law. Learned counsel further submits that the

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impugned order has been passed without following the procedure
prescribed under the Act and the Rules framed thereunder and,
therefore, deserves to be quashed.
3. Per contra, learned State counsel submits that the respondent
authorities shall follow the due procedure prescribed under law
and take appropriate steps in accordance with the applicable
statutory provisions.
4. Having heard learned counsel for the parties and upon perusal of
the material available on record, this Court finds that the impugned
order/inquiry report dated 06.01.2026 has been passed by
respondent No. 7 cancelling the caste certificate issued in favour
of the petitioner without issuing notice to the petitioner or affording
an opportunity of hearing before taking such action. The impugned
order further records consequential recommendations for recovery
of benefits obtained by the petitioner and termination of services.
Such action, having civil consequences, could not have been
taken without following the procedure prescribed by law and
adhering to the principles of natural justice. Moreover, the question
of verification and cancellation of a caste certificate is required to
be dealt with by the authority competent under the applicable
statutory provisions. The District Level Certificate Verification
Committee cannot assume the powers of the High Power
Certification Scrutiny Committee where the statute does not confer
such authority upon it.

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5. In view of the aforesaid, the order/inquiry report dated 06.01.2026
(Annexure P/1) passed by respondent No. 7, i.e., the District Level
Certificate Verification Committee, Bijapur, District Bijapur (C.G.),
is hereby quashed. However, liberty is reserved in favour of the
respondent authorities to refer the matter to the High Power
Certification Scrutiny Committee, if so warranted, in accordance
with law. In the event of such a reference, the competent authority
shall proceed in accordance with the applicable statutory
provisions and afford the petitioner an adequate opportunity of
hearing before passing any appropriate order.
6. With the aforesaid observations and directions, the instant writ
petition stands allowed. There shall be no order as to costs.
Sd/- Sd/- Sd/-
(Amitendra Kishore Prasad)
Judge
Yogesh