Bhopal/New Delhi- The contentious issue of obtaining reservation benefits through fake caste certificates has reached India's Upper House of Parliament. On Monday, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Sumer Singh Solanki highlighted the grave problem, stating that improperly issued caste certificates are depriving genuine Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) beneficiaries of their constitutional rights. He described it as a nationwide concern, not limited to any single state, and called for strict, time-bound action.

In his address to the House, MP Solanki emphasized that reservation is not a favor or act of mercy but a constitutional right intended to rectify historical injustices. Yet, ineligible individuals are securing admissions in educational institutions and government jobs using forged documents, leaving deserving SC/ST students and youth deprived of their rightful opportunities.

Claims Backed by Madhya Pradesh Data

Referring specifically to Madhya Pradesh, the MP stated that investigations are underway in 232 cases where individuals allegedly obtained jobs through fake caste certificates. More concerningly, over 8,000 cases have remained pending before scrutiny committees for nearly two decades. He revealed that out of approximately 3,000 Class-I officers in the state, around 600 have caste certificates under suspicion. The highest number of such cases, 168 are linked to the Public Works Department (PWD).

Overall, around 8,000 cases involving various positions (small and large) are pending with the state's scrutiny committee, many awaiting resolution for over 15 years. Citing the Supreme Court's stance, Solanki noted that the apex court has ruled that jobs or educational admissions obtained via fake documents cannot be deemed valid. In such instances, appointments must be cancelled, and criminal proceedings initiated against the offenders.

1950 Rules at the Core of the Controversy

Most disputes in Madhya Pradesh stem from the 1950 regulations, which recognize only those castes as SC/ST that were recorded in the state's 1950 records. Migrants from other states who settled later are not entitled to reservation benefits in Madhya Pradesh. Allegations persist that this provision is being misinterpreted and exploited to fabricate fake certificates.

Congress SC Wing Already on the Front Foot

The political heat around this issue has been building. The Congress Scheduled Caste Department has been aggressively campaigning against fake caste certificates in Madhya Pradesh. Department chairman Pradeep Ahirwar has accused state minister Pratima Bagri of holding a fake caste certificate and demanded a thorough investigation.

In an interview with The Mooknayak, Pradeep Ahirwar labeled the misuse of reservation via fake caste certificates in Madhya Pradesh as a serious, orchestrated conspiracy. He claimed that not just hundreds, but a large number of officers and employees have been entrenched in government jobs for years using forged documents and enjoying reservation benefits. According to Ahirwar, this goes beyond administrative lapses—it is a crime involving clear collusion between those in power and the system.

He alleged that under the BJP government's tenure, the situation has worsened to the extent that some individuals have become MLAs on reserved seats using fake certificates and even risen to ministerial positions. This has directly deprived genuine Dalit and Adivasi youth of jobs and political representation, striking at the heart of the Constitution and social justice principles.

Ahirwar further stated that he had formally filed a complaint, but the state scrutiny committee has suppressed it for the past eight months. He pointed out that the Supreme Court has mandated that caste certificate disputes or complaints must be resolved within a maximum of 90 days to ensure timely punishment for the guilty. Despite this, investigations in Madhya Pradesh are being deliberately delayed, fueling suspicions that the government is protecting influential figures. Ahirwar accused the BJP government of siding with those robbing Dalits and Adivasis of their rights and undermining the foundations of social justice. He demanded impartial, transparent, and time-bound probes into all cases, followed by stringent legal action against the culprits to safeguard the sanctity of the reservation system and maintain public trust in the Constitution.

In the Rajya Sabha discussion, Dr. Sumer Singh Solanki urged the Central Government to institute a uniform, transparent, and time-bound system for verifying caste certificates nationwide. He stressed that without severe punishment for the guilty, the spirit of the Constitution and the integrity of the reservation system cannot be preserved.

The fake caste certificate issue has now become a focal point of political and social debate from Parliament to state levels. The pressing question is: following these claims and allegations, will there be genuine action against those who have allegedly been encroaching on the rights of Dalits and Adivasis for years?