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'State has 40,000 fake caste certificates'

Last Updated 12 September 2011, 18:33 IST

Speaking after inaugurating the Morarji Desai Residential School building at Ummatur village in the taluk on Monday, the minister said: “A number of people have secured jobs using fake caste certificates. A few have even won elections on its basis. In 2001, to curtail the menace, an amended Act making provision for punishment for both the beneficiaries and issuing authorities, was sent to the President for assent. However, it was not approved.”

Hence, the State government is contemplating on drafting a new Act to tackle the circulation and use of fake caste certificates, he added.

Imprisonment/fine

Through the new legislation, the tahsildar who issues the fake caste certificate and officials concerned will be slapped with a fine of Rs 5,000 and sentenced to six months of imprisonment. The issue will be discussed in greater depth with the law minister, Narayanswamy said.

“Fake caste certificates are being created by manipulating certain synonymous words. Such words shall be removed from the Karnataka Gazette. Moreover, an appeal has been filed with the High Court to allow replacement of Kannada words with English words,” the minister said.

No fee

At present SC/ST students have to pay a fee of Rs 30 at the Taluk office to secure caste certificate. However, now the State is mulling over issuing caste certificates without the fee, he added.

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(Published 12 September 2011, 18:33 IST)

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