SC orders investigation: Are Tamil Nadu caste certificates under scrutiny?

Delhi: Suspecting the operation of a "huge racket" granting caste certificates in Tamil Nadu, the Supreme Court has directed an "extensive inquiry" to determine the validity of such certificates granted to persons claiming themselves to be Hindus belonging to the Konda Reddis community.

Hindu Konda Reddis Community 

"Caste certificate is a huge issue in the State of Tamil Nadu."It seems thousands of such certificates have been granted certifying individuals to be members of the Hindu Konda Reddis Community belonging to Scheduled Tribe…For the time being, we do not make any allegations but prima facie it seems to be a massive racket. This is something very dangerous," a bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan held in its February 25, 2025, interim order. The bench said, "We would like to ensure whether these certificates are genuine or not. We would also like to know in what manner such caste certificates have been procured by thousands of people in the area.

Caste certificate appears to be a large issue in the State of Tamil Nadu

The bench added: "We would like to ascertain whether these certificates are real or not.". We also want to know how such caste certificates have been obtained by thousands of individuals in the region. Suspecting that there is a "huge racket" of providing caste certificates in Tamil Nadu, the Supreme Court has directed an "extensive inquiry" to determine the validity of such certificates given to people who claim membership of the Hindu Konda Reddis community."Caste certificate appears to be a large issue in the State of Tamil Nadu.

Do not make any allegations 

It seems that thousands of such certificates have been granted certifying individuals to be part of the Hindu Konda Reddis Community coming under Scheduled Tribe…For now, we do not make any allegations but prima facie it looks like a huge racket." This is something very risky," a bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan held in its February 25, 2025, interim order. The bench observed: "We would like to ascertain whether these certificates are authentic or not.". We would also like to be informed in what way such caste certificates have been obtained by thousands of individuals in the region.

Pradeep claimed to be a member of the Hindu Konda Reddis Community

"The bench was hearing an appeal against the April 22, 2019 Madras High Court ruling which while ordering the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO), Mettur Dam, Salem district, to grant a community certificate to the son of the petitioner, A Pradeepa, also ordered her community certificate along with those of her brother, sister, close relatives and son to be sent "to the State Level Scrutiny Committee for verification of the genuineness of the same." Pradeepa had claimed to be a member of the Hindu Konda Reddis Community, a Scheduled Tribe. She sought a caste certificate for her son but was refused the same after an inquiry initiated by the RDO after which she went to the Madras High Court.

Special leave petition filed

The HC observed that as the community certificates granted to the petitioner, her sister, her brother and also to her close relatives were not revoked as on the date of the judgment, "there cannot be any impediment in issuing the community certificate to the petitioner's son." Howsever, it ordered that after the certificate is issued to the son, the authenticity of all their certificates be checked by the State Level Scrutiny Committee. Granting notice on the Special Leave Petition filed against this, the Supreme Court had stayed on November 22, 2019, the operation of the HC order. But by its February 25, 2025 order, the SC altered the November 22, 2019 order, so as to permit the committee to proceed with the inquiry.

State Level Scrutiny Committee make a thorough inquiry

It added, "We are aware of the fact that the State has succeeded in getting an interim order whereby the operation of the challenged judgment has been suspended."But we alter the order to the extent that let the State Level Scrutiny Committee make a thorough inquiry into this matter at the earliest and place its report before us so that we can further go in the matter. We instruct the State Level Scrutiny Committee to make the said exercise at the earliest and place its proper report within six weeks from today without fail.