New Delhi: The Central government has recommended action against a 2016-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre for allegedly submitting a fake Other Backward Class (OBC) certificate that allowed him to improve his UPSC rank.
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has cancelled the OBC certificate of IAS officer Asif K. Yusuf, sources in the Kerala government told ThePrint.
In a letter to the chief secretary of Kerala, the DoPT has said the OBC certificate and income certificate issued by the tahsildar of Kanayanur Taluk office was “erroneous and incorrect”.
Kanayannur taluk is part of Kerala’s Ernakulam district.
The DoPT has also said Yusuf’s status as an IAS officer was not confirmed since he has failed to give his vigilance clearance as mandated by the government. The Centre has recommended action against the officer under sections of the Indian Administrative Service (Probation) rules and All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) rules.
ThePrint tried to contact Yusuf through calls and text messages but there was no reply. This report will be updated when he responds.
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Officer had high rank but OBC certificate improved it
While Yusuf would have become an IPS officer on the basis of his original rank — 215 — in the UPSC, he was allotted the IAS on the basis of the OBC certificate.
Last year, a report by Ernakulam District Collector S. Suhas had said there were discrepancies in the income figures submitted by the officer on the basis of which his OBC certificate was issued, the sources said.
According to Suhas’s report, government rules state that the sons and daughters of persons having gross annual income of Rs 6 lakh or above for a consecutive period of three years would not be entitled to OBC reservation benefits since they would constitute the creamy layer.
However, according to figures obtained by the income tax department, the combined income figures of Yusuf’s parents for the financial years 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 are Rs 21,80,963, Rs 23,05,100 and Rs 28,71,375, respectively.
Misuse of OBC certificate not a rarity
A DoPT official said while the Centre has recommended action against Yusuf, the misuse of the OBC certificate was not by itself “a rarity”.
Last year, ThePrint had reported that the government did not allot any service to at least 30 candidates who cleared the civil services exam in 2017 after it came to light that they belonged to the creamy layer among the OBC, and were thus not eligible for quota benefits.
While 27 per cent of the total seats are reserved for OBCs in all government recruitment, including in the civil services examination, they need to satisfy the caste as well as ‘income’ criteria — unlike SCs and STs, who get reservation based on their caste status alone.
Since there is no way to establish whether the certificate provided by the officer is genuine or not, it is up to the recruiting authority to verify the certificates that are issued by local government officials.
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As per DoPT it’s written that salary and income from agriculture land is not clubbed into income calculation . And also group C,D will not come under creamy layer irrespective of the salary of the parents more than the limit.
Is it true .
Reservation must but based on their income but not their caste
caste based reservation should be stopped. We should not discriminate us on the basis of caste, creed and religion. Government can help poor section of the society economically but there should not be any partiality on the marks obtained by a candidate in any examination. How long this discrimination will going on?Till today there is nothing in India apart from this caste, creed and religion. Incredible India!
Right now the income criteria should be imposed on SC and ST ‘s also. There are many scheduled tribe or scheduled caste candidates coming form creamy layer of the society.government should stop the caste based reservation ,rather income based reservation is necessary.
Creamy n non creamy layer criteria must be supplied to all caste. Creamy layers means they are able to give equally, good education to their kids. The worst thing in India is that,, Kids of IAS officers of SC/ST are getting this reservation benefit, ignoring actually deserving people.
But no one is ready to initiate this change fearing loss of votes. This most ugly picture of India.
The day our government squashes all types of reservation for state and central services we will see some of the bright hardworking and dedicated individuals working for the government. If we have a passion or aspire for something earnestly a person will always find means to do that. It’s very pathetic that our politicians fear of losing their majority if such strict decisions are taken.. a common man can say a million things. It’s the politicians at the centre who should be doing it. It’s 73years since we had independence. We should really be giving up on reservation.
aur na jaane kitne log nakli certificate ke dum pe jaruratmando ja haq maar ke kha gaye honge, inke khilaf sakht karwahi honi chahiye. nikalo inhe bahar turant, ye kabhi desh ke sage nhi honge cheater.
Inspired from moji?
Remove the caste barriers first and then talk about removing reservation.
Reservations are based on equity approach not of equality.
The reservation quota on the basis of caste,creed etc.should go atleast in the top civil services other wise quality of administration will get affected.Give all facilities for them to improve upon their academic career.This will prevent faking the category certificate for better rank in recruitment. How about economically poor who aspire for civil services?
Thts why quality of service is being compromised in this nation
I have seen many person who have OBC cerificate of non creamy layer .they are very rich and many person who are govt. Servent and have good wealth. Their children are getting benefit of OBC . Their income certificate is fake. Where for such case complaint can be filed.
And what do you think about sc or St ……they are rich instead they get all benefits
No discrimination against general as EWS ‘generals’ too get 10% reservation with criteria same as OBC non creamy reservation.
Such a slam to upsc for not verifying key documents which could improve the rank of candidates of civil sevices. Why dnt they just stick to merit ranks instead of reservation. Shitttt
Because you don’t understand the meaning of equality.
Please scrap reservation Policy
Training must be effective to change personality and attitude like in Defence Services
Every section of society has different history, culture and habits
To ensure harmony among all these sections adequate representation is necessary. This is called in substantive equality.
India is full of diversity respect it!
Asus
Reservation is not the root of all evil. Caste system is the root of all evil.
That would remove one out of few points of the political agenda. To rule, they divide.
Why discriminate us for being general.
Why not scrape reservation root of all evil.
Your absolutely right…
Because of reservation so many government forms almost 1/3rd politician win through reservation. These politician have no emotions for educated youths. Forget about reservation they don’t they won’t allow to cut their percentage seats in reservation.
No discrimination against general as EWS ‘generals’ too get 10% reservation with criteria same as OBC non creamy reservation.
First understand the concepts between equity and equality.