Chapter II ISSUE OF SOCIAL STATUS CERTIFICATE

Any person belonging to a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe or Other Backward Class may apply to the Competent Authority for issuance of a Social Status Certificate in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed.

(1) The Competent Authority, may on receipt of an application under Section 3 and after making such inquiry as may be prescribed issue a Social Status Certificate:

Provided that where the competent authority comes to a conclusion that there are sufficient reasons for rejecting the application for such certificate, it shall record the reasons of rejection in writing and inform the applicant accordingly.

(2) A Social Status Certificate issued by the Competent Authority under sub-section (1) of this Section, shall be a document of permanent nature, the validity of which shall not be limited by time:

Provided that duplicate copy of the Social Status Certificate may be issued by competent authority only when the applicant declares the loss of the original certificate.

(3) Social Status Certification issued by any person, officer or authority other than the Competent Authority shall not be accepted for the purpose of any public employment, admission to an educational institution or for availing any benefit accruing to the Scheduled Castes or a Scheduled Tribes or Other Backward Classes.

(1) An applicant aggrieved by an order of the Competent Authority passed under Section 4, may within 30 days from the date of receipt of such order, file an appeal before the Appellate Authority:

Provided that Appellate Authority may after recording sufficient reasons in writing condone any delay caused, in filing of such appeal.

(2) The Appellate Authority may, within a period of three months, after giving the applicant reasonable opportunity of being heard either confirm or set aside the order of the Competent Authority with such directions as it may deem appropriate.