DCRE seeks info on misuse of caste certificates

DCRE seeks info on misuse of caste certificates

Mangalore Today News Network

Sep 25, 2017: Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement (DCRE)  is currently probing four cases of false caste certificates in Western Range of Karnataka State Police and sought information from members of SC/ST community about any such instance they may be known.  Two cases pertain to people misusing ST tag given to Marati Naik community, and one case each about Mogera and Shaurika community respectively, C B Vedamurthy, SP, CRE cell, said.

Noting that misuse of SC/ST tag will deny genuine beneficiaries from enjoying what is legally due to them, Vedamurthy informed the monthly SC/ST meet conducted by Mangaluru City Police that DCRE takes such instances very seriously. The ADGP (DCRE) monitors such cases and findings of probe conducted by CRE cell at the range level vetted by the ADGP and passed on to DCs’ concerned. This is turn is placed before district caste verification committee (DCVC).

Vedamurthy said the DCVC that also has the district social welfare officer as member takes a call on the probe that CRE cell conducts and if convinced of the report, in turn directs the tahshildars to cancel the caste certificate so issued. The CRE cell is also empowered to register an FIR in such cases and proceed against persons who misuse the caste certificate, he said, urging members of the SC/ST community to be vigilant and help the cell crack down on such instances.

The SP also advised investigating officers probing cases of SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act to apply the correct sections while registering the FIR. This helps both CRE cell and social welfare department to disburse compensation to the victims under the Act without any delay. Hitherto, section 3 (1) of the Act had sub-sections 1 to13. This has been changed to sections a to z, he said, adding invoking the right section will help the department expedite the claims process.