Cabinet Returns Draft to Panel for Re-look

BHUBANESWAR: The proposed legislation to check issuance of fake caste certificates could not get approval of the State Cabinet on Tuesday as ministers expressed reservations over the provisions of punishment recommended by the ministerial sub-committee. The issue was referred back to the sub-committee to make a further study of the subject. The competent authority for issuing caste certificates in Orissa includes MLAs and MPs besides the block development officers (BDOs), tahasildars, sub-collectors and other officials authorised by the Government. The sub-committee had recommended a fine ranging from ` 2,000 to ` 20,000 and jail term between six months and two years for those authority issuing forged certificates. The provisions also lay out punishment for a person being issued such fake certificate. The issue has been raised several times in the Assembly with MLAs across party lines demanding that there should be a solution to this problem. Following  persistent demands from the MLAs, the Speaker had  called a meeting of the members and officials to discuss the issue. Most of the legislators do not want to get into any trouble by issuing caste certificates as they do not have any means to verify the claims of a person before issuing it. The MLAs and MPs are competent to issue caste certificates for admission to educational institutions only. Several of them have got into trouble in the past for innocently issuing such certificates. Sources said no one wants to get entangled in a criminal case. A senior minister, however, said  there cannot be separate laws for officials and legislators. The issue has been shelved for the time being to be taken up after the ministerial committee submits its updated report, he said. The views of the Law department will also be taken. Besides, provisions in other States will be studied in this matter. “We will see whether MLAs and MPs are competent authority in others States for issuing caste certificates,” he said. The State is beset with the problem of largescale forgery of caste certificates for getting appointments and other benefits. This was also one of the major reasons behind the riots in Kandhamal district.