State asks all District Commissioners to submit verified records on Scheduled Caste certificates and related complaints within 10 days following a request from a Centre-appointed inquiry commission
Guwahati: The Assam Government has launched a statewide exercise to collect district-wise information on the issuance of Scheduled Caste (SC) certificates and complaints linked to them after a request from a Central inquiry commission examining the intersection of SC status and religious conversion.
In a directive issued by the Social Justice and Empowerment Department, all District Commissioners have been instructed to review official records and submit verified data within 10 days.
The move comes as the inquiry commission headed by former Chief Justice of India Justice K.G. Balakrishnan enters the final phase of preparing its report for the Central Government. Constituted under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952, the panel was notified on October 6, 2022 to study the eligibility of individuals seeking Scheduled Caste status after converting to religions not recognised under the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, as amended.
According to the government communication, the commission has sought state-specific inputs from all States and Union Territories before finalising its recommendations.
District administrations have been directed to furnish details of SC certificates issued by competent authorities through Proforma-I and provide information on complaints relating to such certificates through Proforma-II.
The department stressed that the information must be “accurately compiled, thoroughly verified and supported by official records.” Districts with no complaints have been asked to submit a Nil Report, while unavailable data must be accompanied by appropriate remarks.
The communication also allows districts to appoint a designated officer to coordinate the collection and timely submission of records.
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