All caste certs issued since 2011 to be re-verified

Kolkata: State govt has directed all district administrations to begin re-verification of caste certificates issued since 2011, including those distributed through Duare Sarkar camps. The backward classes welfare department issued the directive on Friday, covering around 1.69 crore certificates issued over the past 15 years.Of these, around 1 crore are SC certificates, 21 lakh ST, and 48 lakh OBC. Around 47.8 lakh of the 1.69 crore certificates were issued through 10 phases of Duare Sarkar camps.Friday's order said the "authenticity and genuineness" of several certificates had been challenged by various quarters. Authorities also noted that some second-generation caste certificates may have been issued on the basis of such documents.The order stated that, given the importance and sensitivity of the matter, and as directed in a review meeting, re-verification of such caste certificates will be carried out by respective issuing authorities in accordance with prevailing norms. The govt said any certificate found to have been issued improperly would invite legal repercussions and strict action.It has also ordered fresh scrutiny of caste certificates issued to people whose names were removed from electoral rolls during the recent SIR exercise.