Gujarat sees 1,084 fake caste certificate complaints in a decade, 92 govt employees dismissed
The Gujarat Social Welfare Department uncovered 156 fake caste certificate cases in the last three years. Over the past decade, 1,084 applications were received by the Director of Social Welfare against government employees, medical students, and education department personnel for allegedly using fraudulent caste certificates to gain reserved-category benefits.After verifying documents and evidence, 92 employees were found guilty of using false documents and were dismissed. In addition, they were made to repay the salaries they had received during their employment.Recently dismissed Surat Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) B M Chaudhary is under the heat for submitting a fake caste certificate. He has been serving Gujarat police force for over 30 years.Chaudhary had obtained a Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate and joined the police force as a sub-inspector in the 1993 recruitment batch. He was due to retire on June 30. The Department of Social Welfare has been conducting a thorough investigation into his case. Last year, two employees were also dismissed and made to repay their salaries after it was discovered that they falsely claimed ST status by providing addresses in tribal areas like Barda and Gir.In the last ten years, with the increased use of online systems, complaints related to caste and income certificates under OBC (Other Backward Classes) categories have risen. Individuals are often found to have mentioned fake birthplaces, added misleading surnames to qualify for reservations, or used forged local panchayat documents to claim income eligibility under the ‘creamy layer’ exclusion.A senior official from the Department of Social Welfare stated that several officers from GPSC (Gujarat Public Service Commission), the police department, the medical field, and the education sector have been caught and lost their jobs due to such fraudulent claims. Yet, there is no strict or foolproof system in place to prevent such occurrences. Most of these cases come to light only after a complaint is filed.
The Gujarat Social Welfare Department uncovered 156 fake caste certificate cases in the last three years. Over the past decade, 1,084 applications were received by the Director of Social Welfare against government employees, medical students, and education department personnel for allegedly using fraudulent caste certificates to gain reserved-category benefits.
After verifying documents and evidence, 92 employees were found guilty of using false documents and were dismissed. In addition, they were made to repay the salaries they had received during their employment.
Recently dismissed Surat Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) B M Chaudhary is under the heat for submitting a fake caste certificate. He has been serving Gujarat police force for over 30 years.
Chaudhary had obtained a Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate and joined the police force as a sub-inspector in the 1993 recruitment batch. He was due to retire on June 30.
The Department of Social Welfare has been conducting a thorough investigation into his case. Last year, two employees were also dismissed and made to repay their salaries after it was discovered that they falsely claimed ST status by providing addresses in tribal areas like Barda and Gir.
In the last ten years, with the increased use of online systems, complaints related to caste and income certificates under OBC (Other Backward Classes) categories have risen. Individuals are often found to have mentioned fake birthplaces, added misleading surnames to qualify for reservations, or used forged local panchayat documents to claim income eligibility under the ‘creamy layer’ exclusion.
A senior official from the Department of Social Welfare stated that several officers from GPSC (Gujarat Public Service Commission), the police department, the medical field, and the education sector have been caught and lost their jobs due to such fraudulent claims. Yet, there is no strict or foolproof system in place to prevent such occurrences. Most of these cases come to light only after a complaint is filed.
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