Chennai: Appeals against the decision of the district-level vigilance committees on the cancellation of scheduled tribe community certificates can be filed only in the High Court and not before the State-level scrutiny committee, the Madras High Court has ruled.

The court ruling is significant as, according to the State Government itself, the district-level vigilance committees have been making 'mechanical endorsements' in their orders, saying that appeals against such orders could be filed before the State-level committee.

The First Bench, comprising Chief Justice A P Shah and Justice P Jyothimani, gave the ruling on a petition filed by K Gangarani, who challenged the cancellation of her community certificate and also sought to direct the Government to provide provisions for making an appeal before the State-level scrutiny committee against the orders of the district committees.