In a major relief to reserved category students applying for professional courses in the state, the Maharashtra government will allow applicants to take admission even if they don’t have a caste validity certificate at the time of the admission. However, the applicants will have to furnish an undertaking that the validity certificate will be submitted within three months of admission.
State Education Minister Vinod Tawde told The Indian Express that the education department was in discussion with the social justice and tribal development departments. “We are determined to come out with the order and a Government Resolution to the effect will be issued shortly,” said Tawde.
The Indian Express had on Tuesday reported that the state admission regulating authority — an apex body conducting admissions to all professional courses — has made it mandatory for applicants to produce caste validity certificates at the time of registration. This has left applicants from reserved categories in a dilemma as those who do not have a validity certificate in hand will have to apply as general category candidates, losing out on seats reserved for SC/ST and OBC categories.
While the new rule was introduced in line with a September 2017 Supreme Court order, the state government has now decided to take a U-turn on the matter. “In the interest of the students, we will take this decision. If it is considered a contempt of court, we will bear the consequences,” said Tawde.