SC COMMISSION DIRECTS PUNJAB TO LAUNCH CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THOSE AVAILING BENEFITS AGAINST WRONGLY ISSUED SC CERTIFICATES

* TAKES STRONG NOTICE OF CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS SEEKING BENEFITS OF SCs

* STATE TOLD TO FIX ACCOUNTABILITY OF OFFICIALS/OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THE RACKET

* DIRECTIONS ISSUED TO LAUNCH RE-VERIFICATION DRIVE OF SC CERTIFICATES

Chandigarh, July 16: The Punjab State Commission for Scheduled Castes today issued directions to Punjab Government to launch criminal proceedings under relevant acts against persons wrongly availing the benefits of Scheduled Castes, depriving eligible and needy Scheduled Castes beneficiaries of their rightful share.

In a communiqué to Welfare Department in a case relating to a Christian Jagdip Singh s/o Ajit Masih of district Pathankot, who got a Indane gas agency in SC quota allotted on a SC certificate issued by concealing his identity and caste, Mr. Rajesh Bagha, Chairman SC Commission, Punjab observed that this case gives an impression that a large scale racket was running in the state in which Muslims and Christians by concealing their names and castes were getting SC Certificates issued in which connivance of districts officers of welfare department cannot be ruled out. The Commission also pointed out that earlier a case of Muslim in district Sangrur, who contested Vidhan Sabha in 2012 election on SC quota seat came to the notice of commission and now this case of Christian has come to its notice. The Commission also pointed out that State cannot allow any other caste to encroach in the benefits meant for Scheduled Castes community that has been granted by Constitution of india and State Government must take step to go deep into the racket and proceed against those peoples who were taking the benefits of SCs by concealing their castes.

The Commission on a complaint against Jagdeep Singh sought report from Welfare Department and its vigilance cell. The SDM Pathankot in his report had admitted that Jagdip Singh got the Scheduled Castes certificate had concealed the information and Commission on the report of welfare department has ordered cancellation of SC certificate, initiation of criminal proceedings against Jagdip Singh and ordering an enquiry to fix the accountability of officials/officers in issuing the SC certificate. The Commission has asked Welfare Department to launch state-wide drive to check such cases.