Community Certificate to be issued only by the Competent Authority

(1) The Competent Authority may on an application made to it under section 4, by following the prescribed procedure, satisfy itself about the genuineness or otherwise of the claim made therein and thereafter issue a community certificate within such period and in such form as may be prescribed or reject the application for reasons to be recorded in writing.

(2) A Community Certificate issued by any person, officer or authority other than the Competent Authority shall be invalid.

(3) The Competent Authority shall not issue a community certificate to a member of the Scheduled Caste or the Scheduled Tribe subject to any condition or contingency.