Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 17: Expressing serious concern over fake Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates issue – the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities today demanded that State Government must reverify all the ST certificates of employees recruited by Jammu and Kashmir in Government jobs since 1991, through its Tribal Department.
The community members were speaking in a programme organized by Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation, here today. They demanded an SRO from Tribal Department to constitute a ‘scrutiny committee’ on the issue to check the wrong doings. The event was presided over by Dr Javaid Rahi.
In his address, Dr Javaid Rahi stated that this was a big issue for tribal communities of State as non-tribal in large number were producing fake ST certificates before authorities for getting jobs and admissions in educational institutions and the same needed to be addressed as early as possible.
He also drew attention towards Supreme Court’s recent order that if anyone is found guilty of using a forged caste certificate for getting education and employment, the person will lose degree and job. The apex court in a historic decision has also ordered that there can be no leniency or consideration of long years of service if anyone has used a fake caste certificate for getting admission or a job, he added and said that this decision must get implemented in the State.
The speakers demanded that Tribal Development Department may compile a data in this regard and if any one found guilty they must be shunt out from Government jobs.
The speakers sought investigation into racket of fake ST certificates operating in the State.
As per the SRO-294 of 2005, issued by J&K Govt, 12 groups in J&K State have been identified as Scheduled Tribe, which are (i) Balti, (ii) Beda, (iii) Bot, Boto, (iv) Brokpa, Drokpa, Dard, Shin, (v) Changpa, (vi) Garra, (vii) Mon, (viii) Purigpa, (ix) Gujjar, (x) Bakerwal, (xi) Gaddi and (xii) Sippi but unfortunately many non- Scheduled Tribes have managed the ST certificates through fraudulent ways and means which resulted into a great loss to the existing Scheduled Tribes, they said.
The speakers included Shabir Choudhary, Tasaduq Hassan, Parvez Choudhary, Shokar Choudhary, Noor Mohd and others.