Chandigarh (Bharat Sandesh) – The Punjab Government has reconstituted a state level scrutiny committee to verify the social status certificates.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Punjab Government said that this new committee will comprise of special, additional, joint secretary to government of Punjab department of welfare of Scheduled caste and Backward Classes (SCs& BCs) as a chairperson. Deputy Secretary, Under Secretary, Superintendent (reserve cell) would be convener member whereas an IAS/PCS officer of the revenue department would be the member.
He further said that the Director Welfare on receipt of the report from the District Welfare Officer, if finds claim for social status to be "not "genuine" or "doubtful" or spurious or falsely or wrongly claimed would issue show-cause notice, supplying a copy of the report of District Welfare Officer, to the candidate through registered post with acknowledgement due, or through the Head of the concerned Educational Institutions or department in which the candidate was studying or employed or direct to the concerned candidate for any other purpose.
He said that the notice would indicate that the representation or reply, if any would be made within two weeks from the date of the receipt of the notice and in no case, on request not more than 30 days from the date of the receipt of the notice. In case the candidate seeks and opportunity of hearing and claims an inquiry to be made in that behalf, the Director Welfare, on receipt, of such representation & reply would convene the meeting of the committee and the Special/Additional/ Joint Secretary as Chairperson shall give reasonable opportunity to the candidate/parents/guardian to adduce all evidence in support of their claim. He further said that a public notice by beat of drum or any other convenient mode would be published in the village or locality and if any person or association opposes such a claim, an opportunity to adduce evidence would be given to him/it. After giving such opportunity, either in person or through counsel, the committee would make such inquiry as it deems expedient and consider the claims vis-à-vis the objections raised by the candidate or opponent and pass an appropriate order with brief reasons in support thereof.