Modification/Revision in instructions regarding authorities competent to issue Caste/Tribe/Community certificates in respect of SC/ST/OBC and Income & Asset Certificates of EWS: DOPT

Modification/Revision in instructions regarding authorities competent to issue Caste/Tribe/Community certificates in respect of SC/ST/OBC and Income and Asset Certificates in respect of EWS: DOPT OM dated 18.03.2024

No. 36039/1/2019-Estt.(Res.-IT)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
Establishment (Res) Section

North Block, New Delhi,
Dated, the 18th March, 2024.

To
The Chief Secretaries
(All States/Union Territories)

Subject: Modification/Revision in instructions regarding authorities competent to issue Caste/Tribe/Community certificates in respect of SC/ST/OBC and Income and Asset Certificates in respect of EWS -reg.

Sir/Madam,

I am directed to state that this Department has issued instructions to the State Government/U.T Administration from time to time prescribing the authorities of the State Governments /U.T. Administrations, who are competent to issue Caste/Tribe/Community certificates in respect of SC/ST/OBC and Income and Asset Certificates in respect of EWS. However, it has come to the notice of this Department that in some States, such Certificates have not been issued by the authorities prescribed by this Department, leading to avoidable hardship for the candidates.

2. In this regard, it is stated that the responsibility for issue and verification of caste/community certificate lies with the concerned State Government/UT Administration. The Hon’ble Supreme Court, vide its judgement in the matter of ‘Kumari Madhuri Patil vs Addl. Commissioner’, has already laid down detailed guidelines to be followed by the State Government to streamline the procedure for the issuance of social status certificates, their scrutiny and their approval. The State Governments/UT Administrations are required to streamline the procedure for issuance and verification of Caste/ Tribe/Community certificates in respect of SC/ST/OBC and Income and Asset Certificates in respect of EWS keeping in view the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, vide its order in ‘Kumari Madhuri Patil vs Addl. Commissioner’.

3. In view of the aforesaid judgement of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, it has been decided to delegate the powers to the State Governments/UT Administrations to decide the authorities competent to issue the Caste/ Tribe /Community certificates in respect of SC/ST/OBC and Income and Asset Certificates in respect of EWS candidates. The State Governments/UT Administrations shall upload on their website the details of the authorities competent to issue such Caste/Tribe/Community/Income & Asset certificate.

The earlier instructions issued vide OM No. 36012/6/88-Estt (SCT) dated 24.4.1990 and letter No. 36012/22/93-Estt (SCT) dated 15.11.1993 (copies enclosed) with regard to the authorities prescribed for issuance of Caste/Tribe/Community certificates in respect of SC/ST/OBC and OM No. No.36039/1/2019-Estt (Res) dated 31.01.2019 (copies enclosed), with regard to the authorities prescribed for issuance of Income and Asset Certificates in respect of EWS are modified to that extent.

Enelo. As above.

Yours faithfully,

(Debabrata Das)
Under Secretary to the Government of India
Ph. 23040279

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