Chaos in Uttarakhand assembly over issuing of caste certificates

The second day of the ongoing monsoon session in Uttarakhand Assembly witnessed chaos following a heated debate on the issue of irregularities in issuing caste certificates by the revenue department to people belonging to scheduled caste, scheduled tribe and Other Backward Class in the state. Speaking on the issue, he also cited a committee formed in the issue under former parliamentary affairs minister Madan Kaushik a few years ago which “too said that the base year should be 2000 for getting the caste certificates.” “But even after the committee’s recommendation, people are asked to show documents dating 1985 or older to prove their permanent residency,” Nizamuddin said. Government should immediately make 2000 as the base year.” Replying in the House, revenue minister Subodh Uniyal, while citing the reason behind making 1985 as the base year for caste certificates, turned the gun at the Opposition and said, “The definition of permanent residency in Uttarakhand was decided by your government in 2013 which said any person living in Uttarakhand for at least 15 years before the formation of the state in 2000 would be considered a permanent resident who is eligible for getting caste certificate.” “We are just following that definition on permanent residency on issuing caste certificates. Amid the heated debate between the Opposition MLAs and the minister, ruling party MLA from Haridwar Deshraj Karnwal said that the Uttarakhand high court, in an order in 2013 on the issue, had already said that, “Those born after 2000 or before that in the state would be included in the definition of a permanent resident to get caste certificate.” “The governments in all these years didn’t take any action even after the high court order. And now they are blaming us or making hollow political promises which, in fact, they themselves are doing with months left for the next assembly elections,” said Bhagat while adding, “However, we are a responsible government and will take necessary actions on it.” Earlier, when the day commenced, the Opposition demanded a debate on the Covid-19 pandemic, saying “the pandemic isn’t over yet with new cases coming daily and no visible preparation by the government to handle the expected third wave.” Speaker Premchand Aggarwal then assured a debate post-lunch session during which the government informed the House on the preparations for the third wave including additional ICU beds in hospitals and speeding up inoculation drive against Covid-19 in the state..