Saturday, August 3, 2019

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EWS quota triggers demand for income certificates in city

Yogesh.Kabirdoss@timesgroup.com

Chennai:03.08.2019

Taluk offices in and around the city are witnessing demand for income certificates from the economically weaker sections (EWS) among forward castes. Though Tamil Nadu has not introduced the 10% quota for EWS in education and employment, people who were not covered under any reservation, are seeking the certificate as the Centre has opened doors for the purpose. With the number of applications expected to rise, legal experts urged the government to make procedures stringent to prevent misuse in obtaining the certificates.

Revenue department sources said six applications have been received in Egmore and Mambalam taluks. While the applications are under process at Egmore, one applicant received his EWS income certificate at Mambalam, official sources said. “In Ponneri taluk, which comprises suburbs in the north, five EWS income certificates have been issued to people belonging to forward castes in the past month,” a Tiruvallur district official said. “Income certificates under EWS category were largely sought by individuals from backward classes to ascertain their eligibility for central government jobs, where the creamy layer rule applies. Now, forward caste people are also seeking it in light of the10% quota for EWS announced by the Union government,” the official added.

Last May, the state government releasedcriteria for EWS reservations. While an annual income cap of ₹8 lakh has been fixed for the reservation, those owning more than 1,000sqft flat or residential plot measuring 900 sqft in urban areas are not eligible for the quota among theforwardcastes.After verification, the tahsildar of the respective taluk should obtain a self-declaration form from the applicant. The income certificate is valid for a year.

Madras high court advocate M Radhakrishnan said issuing EWS certificates should be stringent as there was scope for misuse. “The certificates should be issued only by an officer abovethe rankof revenue divisional officer or sub-collector.Thisfixes accountability as only a self-declaration is obtained from the applicant”.

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