Calcutta High Court Halts Bengal’s Caste Certificate Verification Drive

The Calcutta High Court has granted an interim stay on a notification issued by the West Bengal government that mandated the verification of caste certificates based on voter identity cards from 2011 onwards. This decision, reached on Tuesday, addresses concerns raised by a petition challenging the government’s broad approach to verifying these certificates amidst a special revision of electoral rolls.

According to reports, the May 14 notification declared that caste certificates issued to individuals from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes would be subjected to scrutiny. The government aimed to identify and cancel certificates deemed fraudulent. However, lawyers representing the petitioners argued that the state does not possess the jurisdiction to revoke caste certificates unilaterally. They also highlighted that individuals with pending appeals regarding their voter list exclusions would find it challenging to present the necessary documents for verification.

The advocate general representing the state clarified that certificates issued based on more secure documentation, such as Permanent Account Numbers (PAN), would not require verification. Furthermore, he stated that the state has the authority to cancel certificates after thorough verification against vital documents, including voter identity cards, Aadhaar cards, and family certificates.

The High Court, while deliberating on the case, indicated that district officials could conduct investigations based on specific complaints rather than implementing a blanket verification process. This ruling brings relief to many individuals who may have been unjustly affected by the state’s aggressive stance on verifying caste certificates and potentially facing cancellation without due process.

The controversy surrounding caste certificates in West Bengal has heightened awareness about the complexities of identity and representation within the electoral framework. Caste-based reservations have been a contentious issue in Indian politics, and this latest development underscores the need for a balanced approach that safeguards the rights of individuals while ensuring the integrity of the electoral system.

Source: scroll.in