Ex-TGT booked for using false certificate to job
Photo used for indicative purpose only
Ex-TGT booked for using false certificate to job
Bilaspur, June 15,
A former trained graduate teacher (TGT) has been booked by police for allegedly securing a state job by obtaining an Economically Weaker Section (EWS) certificate.
A FIR lodged under police station Bharari by Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau reignited concerns over misuse of reservation benefits meant for genuinely eligible candidates.
According investigation accused a resident of a village in the Bharari area applied online for an EWS certificate by declaring an income lower than the actual family income.
Investigators claim that the income certificate submitted with the application did not reflect the true financial status of the family, enabling him to obtain an EWS certificate and subsequently secure appointment as a TGT under the reserved category.
The case was investigated by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, Bilaspur, which examined income records and other relevant documents.
After inquiry agency submitted a report to the SP Bilaspur, recommending further action. The matter was then referred to Bharari police station, where a criminal case was registered under relevant provisions of law and a detailed investigation launched.
Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ghumarwin, Vishal Verma, confirmed that a case has been registered in the matter and that further investigation is underway.
The case illustrates how affirmative action benefits can be bypassed when incorrect information is furnished during the certification process and official formalities are completed on the basis of documents that later come under scrutiny.
Prima Facie case appeared to be of alleged underreporting of income enabled the applicant to avail reservation benefits intended for economically weaker sections.
Sources said that during the inquiry, authorities examined income-related documents and other records and found discrepancies between the income declared in the application and the income that should have been considered under EWS eligibility norms.
Such violations, officials noted, deprive genuinely eligible candidates of opportunities and benefits reserved for economically disadvantaged families.
The accused, however, has offered a different account. He stated that at the time of applying for the EWS certificate, he had separated from his father and maintained separate entries in the family register, ration card and other official documents. He said he obtained the TGT post nearly two years ago and that the government subsequently undertook statewide verification of EWS certificates issued to selected candidates.
According to him, the verification process included his father’s income along with his own. Once the combined income exceeded the prescribed eligibility ceiling, he realised that he no longer qualified under the EWS category. He claimed that he voluntarily resigned from the teaching post within 15 days of joining service after the discrepancy came to light.
The registration of the case has triggered discussion in the area over the authenticity of EWS certificates and the adequacy of verification mechanisms. Residents and observers have questioned whether stricter scrutiny is required at the stage of issuing certificates to prevent misuse of reservation benefits.
Under EWS guidelines, persons already availing reservation benefits under Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) categories are not eligible for EWS reservation. Likewise, families with an annual gross income exceeding ₹8 lakh are excluded from the category. Eligibility is also denied to families owning five acres or more of agricultural land, residential flats measuring 1,000 square feet or more, residential plots of 100 square yards or more in notified municipal areas, or plots of 200 square yards or more in non-notified municipal areas.
Government rules further provide that the income and assets of the applicant, parents, spouse, unmarried children and dependent unmarried siblings are to be taken into account while determining eligibility for EWS status.
About the Author
The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
