Offences and penalties for false certificates

(1) Whoever, not being a person belonging to any of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes or Backward Classes, secures admission in any educational institution against a seat reserved for such Castes, Tribes or Classes, or secures any appointment in the Government, local authority or in any other company or corporation owned or controlled by the Government or in any aided institution against a post reserved for such Castes, Tribes or Classes, or enjoys any other benefit intended exclusively for such Castes, Tribes or Classes, by producing a false Community Certificate shall, on cancellation of the false Community Certificate, be liable to be debarred from the concerned educational institution or as the case may be discharged from the said service forthwith and any other benefit enjoyed by him as aforesaid shall be withdrawn forthwith. (2) Any amount paid to such person by the Government or any other agency by way of scholarship, grant, allowance or other financial benefit shall be recovered as an arrear of land revenue. (3) Any degree, diploma or any other educational qualification acquired by such person after securing admission in any educational institution on the basis of a false community certificate shall also stand cancelled on cancellation of the community certificate obtained by him. (4) Whoever not being a person belonging to any of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes or Backward Classes secures any benefit reserved for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes or Backward Classes other than those mentioned in section 12 by producing a false community certificate shall on conviction be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend upto two years and with fine which shall not be less than Rs. 1,000 but which may extend upto Rs. 5,000: Provided that the court may, for adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the Judgement, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a lesser term or fine.