PANJIM: Deputy Collectors and Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) have been authorised to issue the caste certificate to the children of single mother on the basis of single mother’s credentials, as per the notification issued by the Directorate of Social Welfare.
This benefit can be availed by all the single mothers belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBC), Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) communities. Previously, SC and ST caste certificates were issued only based on the father‘s caste certificates or paternal side certificates.
Due to this procedure, many single mothers could not get SC or ST caste certificates for their children. But the Goa government issued the notification in pursuance with the various judgments and Orders of Supreme Court of India and High Court of Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and issued instructions to Deputy Collectors and SDMs to issue the caste certificate to the children of single mother on the basis of single mother’s credentials/caste certificate.
Deputy Collector and SDM will conduct the enquiry of single mother either in person or through Talathi or any other sources which he thinks deemed fit.
