DoPT directs states to probe complaints of certificate irregularities involving civil services officers

Time of India

28-05-2025

Pune: The department of personnel and training has initiated a comprehensive verification exercise targeting civil services officers, who are accused of securing their positions through alleged irregularities in reservation certificates.
This follows complaints by activists from across the country, including one by Pune-based RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar. He has flagged irregularities in the selection of candidates recruited between 2015 and 2023 through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
A DoPT official, who did not wish to be named, told TOI, "Verification letters have been dispatched to various state govts, including Maharashtra." He, however, avoided getting into the numbers and the specifics of the cases under scrutiny.
Kumbhar said he has received copies of DoPT letters covering 15 officials currently under investigation, which includes 11 from Indian Administrative Service (IAS), two from Indian Police Service, one from Indian Foreign Service, and one from Indian Revenue Service.
"The complaints allege misuse of certificates across various reservation categories, including economically weaker sections (EWS), persons with benchmark disabilities, other backward classes–non-creamy layer, scheduled castes, and scheduled tribes," he said.
The verification has begun across Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Odisha, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Kerala. At the Central level, the ministry of home affairs, department of revenue, and the ministry of external affairs are among the departments tasked with verifying records of candidates now serving in their respective cadres.
Among the 15 complaints, one involves a Maharashtra-cadre official.
Senior state govt officials confirmed receiving the verification request and assured due diligence in investigating the alleged certificate irregularities.
"Since the candidate has been appointed to IAS under EWS category, state govt is requested to verify the authenticity of the certificate issued to the official under EWS category and provide their comments to this department," stated the letter sent by Anshuman Mishra, under secretary, ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions, DoPT, on May 5.
A copy was marked to Kumbhar.
Kumbhar said the misuse of reserved category benefits in civil services recruitment not only violates constitutional provisions but also deprives genuinely deserving candidates of their rightful opportunities. "Govt must act swiftly to prevent this pattern from continuing."
He highlighted particular vulnerabilities in EWS category, which relies on self-declared income limits of Rs 8 lakh per annum and loosely defined asset thresholds.
"Ambiguity in eligibility norms makes it easier to manipulate the system."
Kumbhar has urged Central govt, DoPT, and UPSC to undertake comprehensive structural reforms in the selection and post-selection verification. His key recommendations include real-time validation of caste, income, and domicile certificates through integration of UPSC systems with state databases, mandatory post-selection audits of reservation claims before final appointments, and strict penal provisions against candidates and certifying authorities found guilty of irregularities.