Kolkata
Bengal Reviews Reservation Certificates Amid Corruption Allegations
The Government of West Bengal has ordered a fresh verification of all caste certificates issued in the state since 2011 amid allegations of irregularities and corruption in the certification process.
The Government of West Bengal has decided to conduct a re-verification of all caste certificates issued in the state since 2011 following allegations of large-scale irregularities during the previous administration, a senior bureaucrat said on Friday.
According to officials, the Backward Classes Welfare Department issued directions to all district magistrates across the state to initiate the re-verification exercise.
The move comes after repeated allegations of corruption and irregularities in the issuance of caste certificates over the past several years. Authorities are expected to examine the authenticity of certificates and verify whether due procedures and eligibility criteria were followed at the time of issuance.
Officials said the re-verification drive aims to ensure transparency, maintain the integrity of reservation-related benefits, and identify any fraudulent or improperly issued certificates.
District administrations have been instructed to begin the process in coordination with relevant local authorities and verification agencies. Further guidelines regarding documentation, scrutiny procedures, and timelines are expected to be issued separately.
Caste certificates play a crucial role in accessing reservation benefits in education, employment, and welfare schemes for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes.
The large-scale review is likely to become one of the state’s major administrative exercises in the coming months and may impact thousands of certificate holders if discrepancies are identified.