Monitoring Issuance of Caste Certificates
Government of West Bengal
Backward Classes Welfare Department
Writers’ Buildings, Kolkata
No. 3326-BCW/CON-03/2008, Date: 19.09.2012
CIRCULAR
In order to streamline the procedure of disposal of application for issuance of Caste Certificate the government in the BCW Department has issued comprehensive guidelines for issuance of SC/ST certificate vide No. 1465-BCW/MR-67/10 dated the 30th April, 2010 and guidelines for issuance of OBC Certificate vide No. 1464-BCW/MR-59/10 dated the 30th April, 2010. Both the guidelines are clear and definite for receipt and disposal of applications for issuance of Caste Certificate to SC, ST and OBC applicants.
The time-frame for the issuance of Caste Certificate has been reduced from eight weeks to four weeks by amending Rule 7D (12) of the West Bengal Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Identification) Rules 1995.
For plugging the loopholes and strengthening vigilance cell the BCW Department has amended West Bengal Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Identification) Act, 1994 and inserted Section-8A and Section-8B in the said Act for constitution of State Scrutiny Committee and constitution of a Vigilance Cell for each district of the West Bengal, vide Notification No. 651-L dated 10.5.2007.
BCW Department has made amendment in the West Bengal Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Identification) Act, 1994 and inserted provisions for cancellation of Caste Certificate and also provisions for Appeal against the cancellation of the certificate by the issuing authority.
Now all the enquiring officers are instructed to ensure that the enquiry reports are specific and speaking and the report so submitted must contain the documents/ evidence on the basis of which the enquiry officers have been satisfied. The certificate Issuing authority is requested to monitor the entire process of issuance of caste certificate to eliminate errors and confusions.
Secretary to the Govt. of West Bengal