Supreme Court probes caste certificate fraud in Tamil Nadu

The Supreme Court of India has ordered an investigation into the issuance of caste certificates in Tamil Nadu, suspecting a significant fraud involving certificates for the Hindu Konda Reddis community. The court noted that thousands of such certificates may have been improperly issued. The inquiry follows an appeal related to a caste certificate application for a petitioner’s son, which was denied after a local inquiry. The court has directed the State Level Scrutiny Committee to verify the authenticity of these certificates and report back within six weeks. Previously, the Madras High Court had ordered the issuance of a community certificate but also mandated verification of several related certificates. The Supreme Court has now modified this order to prioritize the investigation into the caste certificate process.