U'khand govt complies with HC order on caste certificates

Implementing an order passed by the Uttarakhand High Court seven months ago, the state government today issued a notification recognising November 9, 2000 as the cut off date for issuing caste certificates to SCs, STs and OBCs living as domiciles of the state on that date.
"With this notification, people of these sections who have been living as domiciles of the state for 15 years on 9/11/2000, the day when Uttarakhand came into existence as a separate state, will be eligible for being issued caste certificates," Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain told reporters here today.
The notification is in compliance with a high court order passed on August 17 last year in this regard, he said.

As per the notification, people of these sections living as domiciles of the state since 1985 on November 9, 2000 will fulfill the eligibility criteria for being issued caste certificates, the Chief Secretary said.
Political motives are being ascribed to the move as civic body polls are likely to be held in the state later this month. Analysts feel Bahuguna government has issued the notification to polarise votes of settlers who abound in the plains of Uttarakhand.