Vidhi Codex

The Maharashtra Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, De-notified Tribes (Vimukta Jatis), Nomadic Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Special Backward Category (Regulation of Issuance and Verification of) Caste Certificate Act, 2000

The Maharashtra Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, De-notified Tribes (Vimukta Jatis), Nomadic Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Special Backward Category (Regulation of Issuance and Verification of) Caste Certificate Act, 2000

General200020 sections

This Act establishes a strict statutory process in Maharashtra for issuing and verifying caste certificates required to claim affirmative action benefits. It applies to individuals seeking reserved seats in educational institutions, public sector jobs, government schemes, or reserved electoral constituencies in local bodies and co-operative societies. To prevent fraud, the law sets up a two-tier mechanism consisting of a designated Competent Authority to issue certificates and a Scrutiny Committee to verify their validity. Anyone who uses a fake caste certificate faces cancellation of admissions or job appointments, recovery of financial grants as land revenue arrears, and criminal prosecution with mandatory imprisonment.

Start reading →Read full ActSections
  1. 1. Short title and commencement.
  2. 2. Definitions.
  3. 3. Application for a Caste Certificate.
  4. 4. Caste Certificate to be issued by Competent Authority.
  5. 4A. Temporary provisions for admission in certain professional courses for academic year 2018-2019.
  6. 5. Appeal.
  7. 6. Verification of Caste Certificate by Scrutiny Committee.
  8. 7. Confiscation and cancellation of false Caste Certificate.
  9. 8. Burden of Proof.
  10. 9. Civil Court powers to Competent Authority, Appellate Authority, and Scrutiny Committee.
  11. 10. Benefits secured on the basis of false Caste Certificate to be withdrawn.
  12. 11. Offences and penalties.
  13. 12. Offences under Act to be cognizable and non-bailable.
  14. 13. Penalty for issuing false Caste Certificate.
  15. 14. Penalty for abatment.
  16. 15. Bar of jurisdiction of Civil Courts.
  17. 16. Protection for acts done in good faith.
  18. 17. Provisions of this Act to be in addition to any other law time being in force.
  19. 18. Power to make rules.
  20. 19. Power to remove difficulties.

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