Question : VERIFICATION OF CASTES

(a) whether the Government has issued any directions to the State Governments in the year 2004 regarding verification of castes of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the response of the State Governments thereto;

(d) whether the domicile certificate of 1950 or prior to the year 1950 of the concerned State has been made mandatory in all States of the country as a proof of the said caste for residing there; and

(e) if so, the details and implementation status thereof, State-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SMT. RANEE NARAH)

(a) to (c): The Hon’ble Supreme Court in its decision dated 2-9-1994 in the Case of Kumari Madhuri Patil versus Additional Commissioner, Tribal Development, Government of Maharashtra (Civil Appeal No. 5854 of 1994, arising out of SLP (Civil) No. 14767 of 1993) has directed that the caste certificates be scrutinised at the earliest and with utmost expedition and promptitude. The instructions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court to streamline the procedure for the issuance of caste certificates and verification of social status, their scrutiny and their approval to all State Governments/UT Administrations was circulated by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in June, 2004. The DoPT has also issued instructions to all the States/UTs in April, 2012 regarding verification/issuance of Caste certificates by the District authorities.

(d) & (e): The first specification of Scheduled Tribe in relation to a particular State/Union Territory is by a notified Order of the President, after consultation with the State Government/UT concerned, as per provisions of Article 342 of the Constitution. The guidelines for issuance of the Scheduled Tribes certificates have been circulated among the States/UTs, vide the circular No. 35/1/72-RU (SCT-V) dated 2-5-75 and circular No. BC 12025/2/76-SCT-I dated 22-3-1977 by the Ministry of Home Affairs.