Chhattisgarh HC Quashes Teacher’s Caste-Certificate Cancellation As District Panel Lacked Power, Leaving State Free To Refer Case To High-Power Committee

The petitioner challenged the District Level Certificate Verification Committee’s order/inquiry report dated 6 January 2026, which cancelled his caste certificate as forged and fabricated and recommended recovery of benefits and termination of his employment.

He contended that the Committee lacked authority to cancel the certificate and had not followed the procedure prescribed by law.

The State submitted that the authorities would act in accordance with the applicable law.

The Court considered the Chhattisgarh Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes (Regulation of Social Status Certification) Act, 2013, and the Rules framed under it.

It held that certificate verification and cancellation must be undertaken by the authority empowered under the applicable statutory provisions; the District Level Certificate Verification Committee cannot exercise powers not conferred on it by the statute.

Further, an action having civil consequences must follow the procedure prescribed by law and comply with the principles of natural justice, including affording an adequate opportunity of hearing.

The impugned order cancelled the petitioner’s certificate and recommended recovery of benefits and termination of service, thereby producing civil consequences.

The Committee had acted without first issuing notice or providing an opportunity of hearing.

The Court also found that the Committee could not assume the statutory role of the High Power Certification Scrutiny Committee.

Accordingly, the order was unlawful both for failure to observe natural justice and for being made by an authority without the requisite power.

It reserved liberty for the authorities to refer the matter to the High Power Certification Scrutiny Committee, if warranted; any competent authority dealing with such a reference must follow the applicable statutory procedure and afford the petitioner an adequate opportunity of hearing.

The petition was allowed, with no order as to costs.