Aspirants use false caste certificates to bag govt jobs

MYSURU: The Directorate of Civil Right Enforcement Cell received the highest ever complaints of aspirants obtaining false caste certificates to bag government jobs this year.
According to officials, a rise in people seeking Scheduled Caste certificates under the Beda Jangama category has been observed in the first eight months of 2020. Recently 25 people were issued SC certificate under the Beda Jangama category of Belagavi’s Gokak taluk despite them being Lingayath Jangama.
As many as 26 false Beda Jangama claims were reported from Belagavi, followed by Kalaburagi (21), Ballari (18), Bengaluru (4) and Tumakuru (1). Acting on the complaints, two government employees have been dismissed, five are facing dismissal and about 25 cases are pending before district level committees since years. Permission has been given to look into 52 petitions received from KR Nagar in Mysuru and 42 from Ballari.
Sources said some of the members belonging to Lingayat Jangama, Veerashaiva Jangama, Lingayat/ Lingavantha, in connivance with some officials, obtained SC certificate after altering school records and ensuring records of their ancestors also go missing.
According to DCRE officials, even Kurubas are claiming to be ‘Kadu Kuruba’ and seeking Scheduled Tribe certificates in Mysuru, Kalaburagi, Bengaluru, Bidar, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal, Chitradurga and Tumakuru.
Members from Parivara community are obtaining ST certificates claiming to be Nayaka/Talawara in Bengaluru, Mysuru and Chamarajanagar areas, they added.
DCRE additional director general of police K Ramachandra Rao said people are obtaining SC certificates claiming as Beda Jangama to reap benefits from the government, including jobs. “A probe has been ordered,” he said.
The recent incident in Belagavi was brought to the notice of DC and government officials, suspected to be in connivance with some offenders, were placed under suspension, Rao added.
“Records are being systematically destroyed at the school level. This has prevented genuine candidates from getting government benefits. Social welfare authorities, education officers and revenue officials must work together to resolve this problem,” said the ADGP.
The cell has received 908 complaints, including 247 this year. Of them, 702 petitions have been disposed of and 573 cases are recommended to DLCVC for action.
The accused employees continue to remain in service due to delay in probe. “We haven’t held a meeting after the lockdown. Majority of the cases in Mysuru is of Nayaka /Talawar,” said Mysuru DC Abhiram G Sankar who heads DLCVC in the district.