Govt worried over fake H-K domicile certificates

The state governments, over the years, lobbied hard with the Centre for special status to the six districts of the Hyderabad-Karnataka region by amending Article 371.

But five years later, the special status has turned out to be a big worry for the state government with hundreds of people misusing the reservation and staking a claim for recruitment, promotion in services by submitting fake and bogus certificates.

The Cabinet subcommittee, overseeing the implementation of the special status, has conveyed to the state government about the rampant violations of various provisions under the rule.

Alarmed by the growing trend and coming across several such fake and bogus certificates, the state government has ordered an audit of beneficiaries who may have submitted fake and bogus domicile certificates to claim the benefits.

The government has also directed all recruitment boards, universities and other government establishments to look out for such unscrupulous elements. Sources in the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) told DH that the Cabinet sub-committee had received several complaints about candidates submitting bogus domicile certificates.

“The committee which met last month discussed in detail about these problems and resolved that those who belonged to other districts of Karnataka have also obtained fake domicile certificate either to get through recruitment process or obtain promotion in services.

The committee led by Social Welfare Minister Priyank Kharge and other ministers of the coalition government decided to initiate stringent action against such bogus claimants,” revealed a senior official from the DPAR.

A circular issued by the DPAR last week, a copy of which is with DH, stated that it is contemplating to file legal suits against those who have submitted bogus and fake domicile certificates.

“If any beneficiary is found to have obtained facilities under 371(J) by way of fake certificates, they will have to face legal cases and stripped off facilities obtained under the provision which is actually meant for the genuine domicile people of these districts,” the circular stated.

The committee has also directed all recruitment agencies like Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), universities, regional commissioners and others to conduct an audit of applications received under the special quota.

“If anyone found violating the rules and caught with fake certificates such appointments be annulled and all facilities provided to them be withdrawn with immediate effect besides initiating legal actions,” the circular stated.