How to Obtain a Caste Certificate?

November 24, 2014

What is a Caste Certificate and Why is it Needed?

A Caste Certificate is required to know which Caste you belong to, especially in case of the ‘Scheduled Castes’, as specified in the Indian Constitution. The Government felt that the Scheduled Castes and Tribes need special encouragement and opportunities to progress at the same pace as the rest of the citizenry.

As a result, as part of the Indian system of Protective Discrimination, there exist certain special privileges granted to this category of citizens, such as reservation of seats in the Legislatures and in the Government Service, waiving off a part or the whole of the fees for admission to schools and colleges, quotas in educational institutions, relaxation of upper age limits for applying to certain jobs, etc.

To be able to avail these privileges, a citizen belonging to a Scheduled Caste must be in possession of a valid Caste Certificate.

The Legal Framework

The statutory lists of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, in pursuance of Articles 341 and 342 of the Indian Constitution, were notified for the first time under the Constitution (Schedule Castes) Order, 1950 and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950. These lists have been modified/amended/supplemented from time to time.

On the reorganisation of the States, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes List (Modification) Order came into force from 29th October, 1956. Thereafter, a few other orders in respect of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes list in some individual States also came into force.

What You Need to Do to Get a Caste Certificate

The application forms are available either online or from the concerned local office in the City/Town/Village, which is usually the office of the SDM (Sub-Divisional Magistrate) or of the Tehsil Department or the Revenue Department.

In case none of your family members have earlier been issued a Caste Certificate, a local enquiry is conducted before issuing the Certificate to you. Proof of residence in your State for a minimum specified period, an affidavit stating that you belong to a Scheduled Caste, and the specified court stamp fee are required at the time of application.

If you are applying for a Caste Certificate in Maharashtra the Procedure is as below:

Any resident desiring to obtain the Caste Certificate has to fill up the application in the prescribed proforma available at the Mumbai City Collector’s office.

Necessary documents/papers:

• Court fee stamp of Rs: 5/- is to be affixed on the application.
• School leaving certificate/ extract of birth certificate/ copy of the first page of the service book, if the applicant is a Govt. or semi-Govt. servant.
• Attested copies of the first page and the last page of the Ration Card/ extract of the electoral roll/ rent receipt.

In the case of a married woman:

• The married women has to produce school leaving certificate/ extract of her birth certificate/ a copy of the first page of the service book, if the applicant is a Government or semi-Government servant, to prove her caste before marriage.
• Attested copy of the marriage certificate or marriage invitation card.
• Attested copy of the extract of the Govt. Gazette wherein her change of name after marriage is published.

An applicant who has migrated from other States/ Districts has to produce the caste certificate issued to his/her father/ grandfather by the competent authority of that State/District.

Address of Mumbai City Collector’s Office

General Branch Mumbai City Collector Office,
Mumbai City District,
Ground Floor, Old Custom House,
Fort, Mumbai  400 001

Address of Mumbai Suburban Collector’s Office

General Branch Mumbai Suburban Collector Office,
Mumbai Suburban District,
10^th Floor, Administrative Building,
Opp. Chetna College, Bandra (East), Mumbai 400 051

Source: This Information was obtained from http://www.archive.india.gov.in

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