Over 2,000 applications for income, caste and domicile certificates stuck in district tehsils as lekhpals boycott work since October 1; union warns of total boycott

The Uttarakhand Lekhpal Sangh has been boycotting work since October 1 in protest against the suspension of revenue sub-inspectors (lekhpals) in cases where certificates were issued on the basis of forged documents. According to Hindustan, more than 2,000 applications for income, caste and domicile certificates are pending in the district's tehsils as a result, and the union has warned of a total work boycott across the state if its six demands are not met. The union says applicants uploaded the documents on the 'Apuni Sarkar' portal, reports were sent on that basis and competent officers issued the certificates, so suspending only the revenue sub-inspectors is one-sided action. The union is demanding that the suspended employees be reinstated and that responsibility for the attached documents be fixed on the applicant. District president Pintu Kumar Gautam said it has suggested making Aadhaar OTP, biometric verification and a live photo compulsory to stop fake applications. The boycott may add to the trouble of applicants for education, scholarships and government schemes. (Source: Hindustan)