'Take action against those wrongly availing SC benefits'

Punjab State Commission for Scheduled Castes today directed the state government to initiate criminal proceedings against persons wrongly availing the benefits of the SC castes, depriving needy beneficiaries.
In a communique to state welfare department, Rajesh Bagha, Chairman SC Commission, said the state government must take step against those peoples who were taking the benefits of scheduled castes by concealing their real castes.
Citing a case, Bagha said that one Jagdip Singh, who belongs to a minority community and is a resident of Pathankot district, got a gas agency allotted to him under SC quota on the basis of a caste certificate he got by allegedly concealing his identity and caste.

The Commission on a complaint against Jagdeep Singh sought report from Welfare Department and its vigilance cell.
The Sub Divisional Magistrate of Pathankot in his report had admitted that Jagdip got the caste certificate by allegedly concealing information.
The Commission on the basis of the report, ordered cancellation of Jagdip's caste certificate and directed state government to initiate criminal proceedings against him.

"This case gives an impression that a large scale racket was running in the state in which some minority communities people, by concealing their names and castes, were getting SC certificates," an official release quoting Bagha said.
"The connivance of districts officers of welfare department (in such cases) cannot be ruled out," he added.

Stating the state cannot allow any other caste to encroach upon the benefits meant for SC community that has been granted by Constitution of India, the Commission has asked the Welfare Department to launch state-wide drive to check such cases.