ST Panel summons UP Chief Secretary over fake caste certificates allegations

NEW DELHI: The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes has initiated an inquiry into fake caste certificates issued in Uttar Pradesh and has summoned chief secretary for a personal appearance. Taking a serious note of complaints filed before it, NCST chairman Nand Kumar Sai summoned UP chief secretary Rajive Kumar this month to present a status report on such cases.

NCST has received specific complaints from a Noida-based group Dalit Aadivasi Jeevan Jyoti Foundation, which has alleged that people belonging to Brahmin Naik and Brahmin Ojha castes have taken fake caste certificates of Gond tribe and got government jobs under reserved category. The incidents have been reported from Gorakhpur, Deoria, Maharajganj, Basti, Azamgarh, Mau and Ballia districts.

The move follows directives from NCST to the state government to investigate the matter. In May, the NCST chairman had written to chief minister Yogi Adityanath to initiate a probe in the matter. However, the administration did not move on it.

Later, NCST sought a detailed report from the state asking for caste break-up in different districts, population of Gonds, and Brahmin Naik and Brahmin Ojha castes, any complaints received by the state government on fake caste certificates and action taken. Despite repeated reminders, the state government did not respond. Now, NCST has initiated an investigation and asked UP chief secretary to come for a sitting on August 21.