NCST group to study loopholes in caste certificate issuance system

The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has decided to form a working group to study the process followed in issuing caste certificates and propose a new mechanism after it has been inundated with complaints of fake certificates being used in states to get reservation benefits in government jobs.

The NCST has recently received several complaints of fake caste certificates issued in states, including Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. There have been complaints of 35,000 alleged fake complaints issued from Madhya Pradesh in connivance with officials.

Speaking to ET, NCST member Ananta Nayak said, "We have received several complaints from across the states of fake caste certificates. These complaints need to be thoroughly investigated as it is a grave matter if reservation benefits are being cornered by the undeserving in the name of Scheduled Tribes. We have decided to form a working group to study the issue in detail."

The working group will examine the complaints and go into processes followed by different states in issuing caste certificates. The process laid down is almost uniform across states where the district magistrate or collector or deputy commissioner issues a caste certificate after ascertaining personal details like place of birth and caste recognised as Scheduled Tribe in a presidential order.

In states like Maharashtra, there are district caste certificate scrutiny committees which goes through all the applications and then approve the issuance of caste certificates. Nayak said, "NCST has been getting such complaints for quite some time but recently the numbers have seen a sharp increase. A particular complaint from Madhya Pradesh has alleged fake ST certificates - about 35,000. We feel there should be a uniform system which needs to be followed across states and there should be better transparency. A working group is being formed which will give a report on the reforms required in this."

This working group will be the first such panel under NCST. Nayak said that fake caste certificates are a top concern of the NCST as it strikes at the very basic rights of tribals.