Gujarat HC Rejects Pleas of GSECL Employees After Fake Caste Certs Revealed

Ahmedabad — The Gujarat High Court has dismissed petitions from 18 employees of the Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Ltd (GSECL)—all working as Vidyut Sahayaks—who sought to retain their jobs after their Socially and Economically Backward Class (SEBC) certificates were found to be invalid The Times of India.

These employees had served for approximately 15 years under the SEBC quota, claiming Sindha community status. However, a scrutiny committee invalidated their caste certificates back in 2012, only two years after their appointments The Hindu+6Reddit+6The Times of India+6.

The petitioners asked the court to reclassify them as general category employees, but Justice Sandeep Bhatt ruled that doing so would unfairly deprive genuinely eligible SEBC candidates who are waiting for appointments The Times of India.

"The petitioners … worked effectively only two years. For the rest, they were posted on sympathy," the judge observed Telegraph India+4Hindustan Times+4The Times of India+4.

Despite the cases reaching as far as the Supreme Court and granting them temporary employment, the state government maintained that they failed to qualify under the general category. Ultimately, their services were terminated   The Economic Times+2Telegraph India+2The Times of India+2.

 Wider Legal Context

This judgment aligns with a clear legal principle: appointments based on fake caste certificates are invalid, regardless of how long an individual served. In several landmark rulings, including a 2017 Supreme Court judgment, courts have reaffirmed that such fraudulent appointments cannot be legitimized by duration of service Live Law+9The Indian Express+9The Hindu+9.

A historic apex court verdict clarified this:

“Job and admissions secured on fake caste certificates cannot be sustained”—asserting that long service does not protect fraudulent appointments Reddit+15The Indian Express+15Reddit+15.

Similarly, a 2022 SC decision held that individuals who gain advantage via false caste or tribe certificates cannot retain the resulting benefits Live Law+1Live Law+1.

 Policy Framework & Government Stance

According to government submissions in the Rajya Sabha, existing rules mandate dismissal if an employee furnishes false certificates or misrepresented information during recruitment Live Law+5Telegraph India+5The Economic Times+5.

The government further emphasized that appointing authorities must initiate termination based on service rules upon discovering any fraudulent documentation The Economic Times+2Telegraph India+2Hindustan Times+2.

 What This Means

• Appointment Validity: This verdict underscores legally sound action against those involved in fraudulent reservation-based hiring.

• Candidate Fairness: It reinforces the rights of deserving SEBC candidates who were displaced from vacancies unjustly.

• Disclosure Obligations: It reiterates the duty of appointing authorities to verify caste certificates thoroughly and act decisively on discovering fraud.

 Final Word

The Gujarat High Court’s decision serves as a stark reminder: fraudulent claims to reserved categories—regardless of service duration—cannot safeguard one’s job. For genuine candidates and principled public administration, this verdict reinforces the importance of integrity and fairness in government recruitment.