How to get a Caste Certificate


February 14, 2018
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Meaning and the Need of Caste Certificate

  • A Caste certificate is certainly the most important evidence of the particular caste which a person belongs to. The caste certificate plays an even more important role for the determination of the caste of a person in case he/she asserts to belong from the backward castes which include Other Backward Castes (OBC), Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) as mentioned in the Constitution of India.
  • The government observed the requirement of some special and particular opportunities and encouragement for the backward castes in order to make them capable enough for progressing and developing at the similar rapidity as the rest of the countrymen (so-called forward people). As an outcome of this, there is an existence of some unique privileges provided to the people of this category (OBC, SC, ST) as a part and parcel of the Protective Discrimination of the Indian System.
  • These privileges include reservation of seats in the Parliament and the State Legislative Assemblies as well as in the government services, reservation of seats and quotas in various educational institutions, waiving off the whole or a part of the admission fees or tuition fees for the schools and colleges, easing the upper limits of the age for applying for the jobs and admissions, etc. To be in a position of availing the above-mentioned privileges, it is essential for a citizen belonging to the aforesaid backward castes to possess a valid caste certificate.

The Legal Framework Regarding Caste Certificate

  • In the implementation of Articles 341 and 342 of the Constitution of India, the statutory lists of the Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes (ST) were notified for the very first time controlled and managed by the Constitution (Scheduled Tribe) Order, 1950 and the Constitution (Scheduled Caste) Order 1950.
  • From time to time, these lists have been amended or supplemented or managed. From the 29th Day of 1956, The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes List (Modification) Order came into existence on the reorganization of the States. After that, a small number of other orders with reference to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes List in some individual states also came into being.

Procedures to be followed in order to get a Caste Certificate

  • One can obtain the application form for the caste certificate from the respective local office in the city, town or village, which is generally the office of the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) or the office of the Revenue Department or Tehsil. Now it is also possible for a person to obtain the form online.
  • A local inquiry is also conducted before the issue of the caste certificate in the cases where none of the family members of the person who intends to get the caste certificate possesses a caste certificate.
  • At the time of application for obtaining caste certificate, an affidavit stating that the concerned person belongs to any of the backward castes as the person may be, specified court stamp fee and an address proof or the proof of residence in the respective state of the concerned person for a minimum specified time period are essential.
  • Procedures to be followed in order to obtain a Caste Certificate in some of the major States of India are talked about below.

Obtaining a Caste Certificate in the State of Uttar Pradesh

Eligibility Criteria

  • A person who wants to get a caste certificate on Uttar Pradesh must belong to the caste or class listed in the Schedule 1 of the Uttar Pradesh Public Services (Reservation for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes) Act 1994, Anukulan Avam Upantaran Order 2001.
  • Any person who comes to the class or caste amended by the government in Schedule 1 of the aforementioned Act is also eligible to obtain a caste certificate.

Procedure to be followed

The person who wants to obtain a caste certificate must present his/her application to the respective Tehsildar on any working day in the forms as authorized and directed and after that he/she must take a receipt of the submissions made.

Essential Papers or and Documents

  • The applicant must make the submission of certificate from Ward member or Gram Pradhan with two witnesses certifying his/her caste.
  • In case the applicant claims to be a person under the OBC category, he /she must submit an affidavit about caste and cream layer.
  • The applicant must be a citizen of India.
  • The applicant must make a deposit of Rs 1.5 as court fee in the form of a stamp which must be pasted on the proforma. However, this is a mandatory procedure only in the case of OBCs.
  • The concerned Tehsildar receives inquiry report from the Revenue Inspector or the Local Lekhpal in the directed format and tries to make the issue of the caste certificate within 7 days.

Involved Authority

The concerned authority for the issue of caste certificate is the District Magistrate (DM) or the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) or the City Magistrate or the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) or the Tehsildar of the locality where the applicant and/or his/her relatives usually live(s).

Fee for obtaining the Caste Certificate

Obtaining the caste certificate is free of cost. One does not need to pay any fee in order to get the caste certificate issued.

Obtaining Caste Certificate in the Territory of Delhi

If the person who wants to obtain a caste certificate has been living in Delhi since the 20th day of September 1951, for that person and his/her children the process of issuance of the Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe Certificate is as mentioned below:

Authority Involved

  • Sub Divisional Magistrate of the respective area, or
  • Deputy Commissioner’s Office in order to fetch the contact details of the Sub Divisional Magistrate under whose jurisdiction the locality of the concerned person comes. Now, it is also possible to submit the applications online.

Essential Papers and Documents

  • Application forms appropriately attested by Municipal Councillors, Gazetted Officers, Member of the Parliament or the Member of Legislative Assembly.
  • Copy of an address proof or proof of residence, mainly the Ration Card.
  • If the applicant is illiterate, an affidavit declaring age and if the applicant is literate then birth certificate or school certificate showing date of birth must be submitted.
  • An affidavit attested by the oath commissioner or notary public containing the declaration of the name, name of the father, residential address, the period of residence in Delhi and caste must necessarily be submitted.
  • If the person who intends to apply for caste certificate is a married woman, address proof or the proof of residential address before marriage is a must.
  • If available, a copy of the caste certificate of father, brother or sister.
  • Where no Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe Certificate has been granted to any of the members of the family of the applicant, two witnesses who must essentially be government employees are needed to provide in writing that they are aware of the person and his/her caste. Additionally, attested copies of the identity cards of the witnesses must also be presented.

Fee

There is no fee for obtaining caste certificate in the Territory of Delhi.

Procedures to be followed

  • In instances where the person who wants to obtain caste certificate is a perpetual inhabitant of Delhi and has affixed a copy of Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe certificate granted to any of the members of his/her family, no local inquiry takes place. In such instances, validation is concluded from the record which could be fetched from the office of the Sub Divisional Magistrate or the CCS branch in the workplace of the Divisional Commissioner. Where the record could not be availed from the office of the Sub Divisional Magistrate or the CCS branch, a local inquiry is initiated.
  • In instances where none of the family members of the applicant has been granted with caste certificate in the past, a local inquiry is done.
  • In instances where the applicant is a married woman, the local inquiry is done at the place of habitation before the marriage
  • A caste certificate cannot be granted to a person if he/she is already having such a certificate granted by the proficient authority.

Expected Time for Response

  • The SC Delhi State certificates are provided within 14 days
  • The SC Other State certificates are provided within 21 days, with a condition that inquiry from the other state is attained.
  • One can follow up on the status of his/her case from time to time.
  • One can also avail the facilities of IVRS by calling up at 23392339/23392340 or drop an SMS at 9868231002 for getting the information about the status of his/her application.

Obtaining Caste Certificate in Gujarat

In Gujarat, Nagrik Sewa Kendra is a forum for the people to get different certificates like caste certificate, Domicile Certificate, Income Certificate, Senior Citizens Certificate, etc. This window of Nagrik Sewa Kendra also issues a lot many other vital renewal documents such as hotel license renewal, arms renewal, affidavits, petition writer renewal, stamp vendor renewal etc. The one who wants to get a case certificate issued for him/her needs to go to the Nagrik Sewa Kendra of the concerned district and submit the application. Generally, the certificate is expected to be issued on the same day.

Obtaining Caste Certificate in the State of Karnataka

It is important for a person who wants to avail the benefits of reservation in different jobs and courses to present the caste certificate issued to him/her by the competent authority. In the absence of a valid caste certificate, a person cannot claim the benefits of reservation provided to the people who belong to the reserved category. In the state of Karnataka, a Tahsildar or a Taluk level functionary possesses the power of issuing the caste certificates.

Procedure to be followed

Applicants are required to make the submission of an application providing the information regarding their caste, income and other relatable information to the Taluk office, under whose jurisdiction the applicant by and large inhabits. The caseworker in the Taluk Office scrutinizes the applications made by the applicants and after that, the applications are forwarded to the concerned revenue officer. In the cases where the concerned locality comes under the village, the applications are forwarded to the Accountant and if it comes under urban area then to the Revenue Inspector. Verification with a target of examining the details of the application is done by the revenue officer by personally visiting the place of the applicant and after this process, the officer submits the report of the verification with a recommendation. Furthermore, The Tahsildar examines the report and either accepts or rejects the recommendation. The certificate or the endorsement is issued to the applicant based upon the order of the Tahsildar.

Involved Authority

  • The Village Accountant for the rural areas.
  • Revenue Inspector for urban areas.
  • Caseworker and Tahsildar at the Taluk office.

Obtaining Caste Certificate in the state of Goa

Mamlatdar is the concerned authority for the issuance of caste certificates in the state of Goa.

Documents Required

Applications for the issuance of caste certificates must be with Form as per the directions along with the following mentioned below:
  • Certificate of the caste of the parents granted by the Competent Authority.
  • Certificate from the concerned Samaj.
  • An affidavit in the directed form.
  • The application is forwarded to the concerned Talathi, demanding for the report within the time period of three days.
  • The Caste Certificate is issued by the Mamlatdar within two days from the receipt of the report of Talathi.

Obtaining Caste Certificate in Maharashtra

Procedure to be followed

Any inhabitant of Maharashtra wanting to get a caste certificate for him/her requires to fill up the application in the proforma as asked for which is obtainable at the office of Mumbai City Collector.

Requisite Papers and Documents

  • Court fee stamp of Rs.5 required to be attached with the application.
  • Date of birth certificate or School leaving certificate.
  • If the applicant is a government or semi-government employee, a copy of the first page of the service book should also be attached.
  • Attested copies of the last and the first page of the extract of the electoral roll, rent receipt or ration card.
  • In instances where the applicant is a married woman:
  1. She requires coming up with extract of her birth certificate, school leaving certificate, a copy of the first page of the service book.
  2. If she is a government or semi-government employee, she needs documents to prove her caste before marriage.
  3. Attested copy of the marriage invitation card or marriage certificate.
  4. She also needs to present the attested copy of the extract of the government gazette wherein the change of her name after marriage is informed or notified.
  • If a person who has migrated from any other state wants to get a caste certificate issued for him/her, he/she will have to show the caste certificate issued to his/her father or grandfather by the proficient authority of the respective state from where the person has migrated.

Obtaining Caste Certificate in Punjab

Authority Concerned

Office of the Sub Divisional Magistrate or the Tehsil Office of the Revenue Department is the concerned department for the issuance of caste certificates in the state of Punjab.

Eligibility Criteria

The applicants must be the permanent inhabitants of Punjab the minimum five years.

Procedures needed to be followed

  • The application form could be availed from the Concerned Office or it can be downloaded online as well.
  • The appropriate applications are verified by Nambardar, Sarpanch or the Municipal Corporation before forwarding it to the office which is supposed to deal with it with Court Fee of Rs. 1.25 along with an affidavit declaring the address of residence of the applicant and also declaring that such certificate has not been taken before.
  • The Sub Divisional Magistrate sends the applications for inspection and examination of the details of the applicants, to the respective Tahsildar.
  • The applications are moved forward to the concerned Revenue Patwari by the Tehsildar for the verification of the details of the applicant.
  • Statements of the applicant and the Nambardar are recorded by the Patwari on the spot and after that, the applications are returned with the report to the Tehsildar.
  • The cases are returned back to the Sub Divisional Magistrate by the Tehsildar with the report and comments.
  • Lastly, after the completion of all the official formalities, caste certificate is issued by the Sub Divisional Magistrate.

Requisite Documents

  • Application form
  • Affidavit of proof of residence
  • Affidavit stating the caste which the applicant belongs to
  • Court Fee stamps of Rs.1.25 attached with the application.

Expected Time

The Caste Certificate is expected to be granted within Seven Days of the application.

Obtaining Caste Certificate in the state of Rajasthan

Obtaining OBC Certificate

Eligibility Criteria

The certificate would be granted only to a person who inhabits in the State of Rajasthan and is essentially from any of the castes as mentioned in the OBC list acknowledged by the Government of Rajasthan.

Procedures Involved

The person who wants to obtain the OBC caste certificate must fill and submit the application form in an appropriate and directed manner. The applicant needs to apply for the certificate to the concerned Tehsildar in the directed proforma attached with the requisite documents.

Requisite Documents

  • Properly and correctly filled application form with a court fee ticket of two rupees.
  • Certificates from two government servants in the application form.
  • Attested copy of the Ration Card
  • An affidavit of Rs.10 (ten)
  • Income certificate
  • Report of the Patwari who is responsible and having authority to give the report.
  • It is essential for the candidate to submit the income tax returns of at least last three years.

Some Essential Requirements

  • If both mother and father of the applicant are in government service, their pay scale should not be more than Rs 5,500 to Rs 9,000.
  • If any of the parents of the applicant is in government service, then his/her pay scale must not be more than Rs 8000 to Rs 13,500.
  • If the applicant’s mother or father is in private service or having their own business, then the whole annual income must be less than Rs 2,50,000. If the father or/and the mother of the applicant is/are having his/her/their own business or having a private job, then the entire per annum income must not be more than Rs 2,50,000 (two lakhs and fifty thousand rupees).

Obtaining Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled (ST) Tribe Certificate

Eligibility Criteria

The SC or ST caste certificate is granted only to a person who is living in Rajasthan or is from one of the castes mentioned as SC/ST in accordance with the SC/ST list endowed by the Government of Rajasthan.

Procedures needed to be followed

The applicant must make the submission of an application for the purpose of getting SC/ST Caste Certificate in the required format along with the necessary documents. The applicant needs to put the application to the concerned Tehsildar in the prescribed proforma with the attachment of all the essential papers and documents.

Documents which are required for the application

  • Duly filled application form along with a court fee ticket of two rupees.
  • Certificates of two government servants
  • Attested copy of the Ration Card
  • An affidavit of Rs.10 (ten)
  • Report of the responsible and authorized Patwari.
Written By:
Mayank Vats

Mayank Vats


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