The Gujarat government plans to bring in a Bill to put an end to the practice of use of fake caste certificates to avail job, education or electoral benefits meant for communities under reserved categories.
"Our government has decided to bring an Act having stringent provisions to protect interests of the backward communities. A Bill will be introduced in the upcoming (budget) session (of Gujarat Assembly slated to begin in the third week of February)," Ganpat Vasava, Minister for Tribal Development, said on Monday while speaking to reporters.
Giving details, the minister said that as per the proposed Bill, those found producing or using fake caste certificates to get government jobs, for admissions to educational institutes or to contest elections could face a three-year jail term and a fine up to Rs 50,000.
So far, the governments have been booking those found guilty under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Atrocities Acts. The Central government, too, has initiated the process of identifying those who had misused the provisions for reservations and submitted fake certificates to get government jobs.
"Those who have acquired a job using such certificate will be dismissed from service immediately. The government will also recover all the finances, including salary and perks, the person had availed during the service," Vasava said, adding that such a move has been necessitated after the government received complaints in this regard.
"It is the priority of this government to protect the Constitutional rights of Scheduled Tribes(STs), Scheduled Castes(SCs) and of OBCs."
The Bill also provides for the cancellation of the degree of a student if he or she is found guilty and as for the elected representative being found guilty, he or she could face disqualification as well as recovery of monetary benefits during their tenure.
Vasava said that once the act comes into force, those seeking to avail benefits on a reserved seat will have to first get their caste certificates verified by a designated committee.