Give caste certificate by July 31 or lose quota job, says Maharashtra

Employees of the state government, who have bagged jobs in reserved categories, but have not provided their original caste certificates, are likely to get dismissed.

Employees of the state government, who have bagged jobs in reserved categories, but have not provided their original caste certificates, are likely to get dismissed.

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Having issued a directive over the submission of caste validity certificate issued by a proper authority five years ago, the government has asked all supervising officers to get their subordinates to submit caste validity by July 31.

Social justice minister Shivajirao Moghe, on Thursday, told HT that the matter was serious.

“At times, because of suspect employees, genuine jobseekers may have been denied jobs in the reserved categories. We know the number of employees who got jobs under the quotas, but will be able to catch those cheating only after they submit their papers or fail to respond,” he said.

According to sources, the number could be huge as the state has 20 lakh employees in government, semi-government, localself governments, aided private schools and colleges, and it offers 50% quota in various categories.

Employees who have retired in the past five years have also been given such an order.

Moghe said that employees in tribal categories, who have got jobs before 1995 under false certificates, were legally protected. “Tribals will not lose jobs, but will not get further promotions. I am not sure whether employees in other categories will be able to hold on to their jobs,” he said.

Another senior minister said that the directive, if implemented, would prove disastrous for the government ahead of elections. “It needs to be put on hold because of involvement of lakhs of employees and their dependents. We can’t afford to invite public wrath,” he said.

A senior officer said that some ministers and legislators were lobbying against the directive with chief minister Prithviraj Chavan.