PUNE: The State Government has directed the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) to not demand the caste validity certificate from students of Socially and Educationally Backward Class (SEBC) category during the admission process.

State Higher and Technical Education Minister Vinod Tawde announced in the State Assembly on Wednesday that the submission of caste validity certificate will not be mandatory for students during the admission process in technical and professional courses.

The decision came in a bid to avoid any hassle for students while undertaking the admission due to non-availability of the caste validity certificate. It is likely to benefit thousands of students.

However, Tawde stated that due to shortage of staff and equipment for verification of documents for producing the certificate, it has not been given to many students. Following which, the Admission Regulation Authority (ARA) has been asked to proceed with the admission of students belonging to SEBC category. A notice related to this has been uploaded on the State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell www.mahacet.org 

It stated that since the category has been newly-formed and is not included among the existing categories of Maharashtra Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, De-Notified Tribes (Vimukta Jatis), Nomadic Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Special Backward Category (Regulation of Issuance and Verification) Caste Certificate Act 2000, the certificates should not be insisted upon till further instruction or order, stated Deputy Secretary of Maharashtra Government, Ravindra Gurav.