MP Minister summoned by caste scrutiny panel amid certificate row

Bhopal, June 30 (IANS) The scrutiny of Madhya Pradesh Minister of State Pratima Bagri’s Scheduled Caste (SC) certificate has reached a crucial stage, with the State-Level Scheduled Caste Scrutiny Committee issuing a notice directing her to appear before it on July 6, along with the original documents and supporting evidence.

The notice, issued on Tuesday by the Office of the Commissioner, Scheduled Caste Development, asked Bagri to “remain personally present before the committee at 11 a.m. in Room No. 312, Vallabh Bhawan, Bhopal.” She has been directed to produce documentary evidence establishing that her family was a resident of Satna district in 1950 and that she belongs to the Bagri Scheduled Caste community, as per the committee’s notification, available with IANS.

The committee is examining the validity of the caste certificate on which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader contested the Raigaon Assembly constituency in Satna district, a seat reserved for Scheduled Castes, and later became a Minister of State in the Mohan Yadav government.

The latest development follows directions of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which had asked the State-Level Scheduled Caste Scrutiny Committee to complete the verification process in accordance with the prescribed procedure after providing the concerned party an opportunity to be heard. The court directed the committee to determine the validity of the caste certificate and pass an appropriate order under the rules.

The controversy stems from a petition filed by Congress leader and State SC Congress President Pradeep Ahirwar, who has challenged the validity of Bagri’s caste certificate. The petition alleges that she obtained the certificate to claim reservation benefits, contested the Assembly election from the reserved Raigaon seat and subsequently became a minister.

The petitioner has relied on documents, including the 1961 and 1971 caste census records, a 2003 decision of the State-Level Caste Scrutiny Committee, and a 2007 Central Government Gazette notification, to contend that the Bagri caste is not included in the Scheduled Caste list for the concerned region. It further claims that Bagri belongs to the Rajput/Thakur community.

The issue has triggered a political confrontation between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress in recent months. While the Congress has repeatedly questioned the authenticity of the minister’s caste certificate and demanded action, the BJP has maintained that the matter is sub judice and should be decided by the competent authority in accordance with the law.

According to the June 30 notice, the committee may seek further documents or clarifications, if required, before arriving at its final decision. The outcome of the scrutiny is expected to have both legal and political significance, as it concerns the eligibility of a sitting minister elected from a Scheduled Caste reserved constituency.

–IANS

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