Fake caste certificate: KAS officer's petition dismissed

The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday dismissed the petition filed by Sangappa, a KAS officer, over the quasi-judicial order which declared Sangappa had used a fake caste certificate for professional gain.

Sangappa had challenged the order of the commissioner for backward classes department and the appellate authority which had confirmed he used fake certificate.

The commissioner had passed an order based on the complaint registered by M V Chandrakant, another KAS officer and aggrieved person. Chandrakant contended that Sangappa, being a Lingayat, had got caste certificate under category ‘2A’ for Ganiga caste to avail the benefits of reservation. Sangappa had got the certificate from the deputy commissioner and chairman of the district caste and income verification committee.

Sangappa argued that his grandfather, who was an illiterate person, was unaware of the caste while getting the caste certificate made. Justice L Narayana Swamy said that though Sangappa’s grandfather was unaware, the former could have got the certificate rectified. The judge dismissed Sangappa’s contentions, upholding the order of the commissioner.