The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has initiated a sweeping probe into the authenticity of reservation certificates submitted by more than a dozen officers currently serving in the Central Civil Services. The move follows complaints that some officers may have fraudulently claimed benefits under categories like Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), Scheduled Castes, and benchmark disabilities during the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
According to senior officials familiar with the matter, verification letters have been sent to several state governments, requesting authentication of the Income & Asset certificates and other documents used to secure reservation-based selections into the elite services.
Red Flags in the 2022 Batch
One case under scrutiny involves a 2022-batch IAS officer from Rajasthan, who was allotted to the Madhya Pradesh cadre after securing selection under the EWS category. The DoPT, acting on a complaint received via the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), wrote to the Rajasthan Chief Secretary seeking verification of the officer’s EWS certificate.
This is part of a broader verification initiative involving over a dozen similar cases, officials said. “The State Government is requested to verify the authenticity of I&A certificate issued to [name of the officer] under EWS category,” read a typical letter from the DoPT, reports say.
RTI Activist’s Complaint Spurs Inquiry
The crackdown follows a detailed representation by Pune-based RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar, who submitted a list of 22 officers suspected of submitting fake certificates across categories including EWS, SC, ST, disability, and OBC non-creamy layer between 2015 and 2023.
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Kumbhar, also associated with the Aam Aadmi Party, previously exposed the controversial case of IAS probationer Puja Khedkar. Khedkar, who was accused of misusing a fake disability certificate, was discharged from service in September 2024 after the DoPT found her ineligible. She is currently challenging the decision in court.
A Structural Flaw or Systemic Exploitation?
Experts say the unfolding scandal reveals deep structural vulnerabilities in the reservation verification system. “This is not just about one or two bad actors. The scale suggests a systemic loophole that’s been exploited for years,” said a retired IAS officer who requested anonymity.
The DoPT’s move marks a rare moment of retrospective scrutiny in the recruitment of India’s civil servants. While verification of caste and income certificates is generally delegated to state authorities, the lack of a centralized oversight mechanism has left space for manipulations, say insiders.
If the allegations are confirmed, disciplinary action, including annulment of appointments and possible criminal prosecution, could follow.